[Study on formulation and revision of standard limit for formaldehyde in the "Standards for indoor air quality（GB/T 18883-2022）" in China].

Formaldehyde, as an important pollutant in indoor air, has always been of great concern. In the newly issued "Standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022)", the standard limit of formaldehyde has been restricted to 0.08 mg/m3. In order to better promote the implementation and application of this new standard, this study reviewed and interpreted the relevant technical content for determining the standard limit, including the indoor concentration and human exposure levels of formaldehyde, the health effects of formaldehyde, and the derivation of safety reference values. It also proposed prospect for the future development and revision of quality standards for formaldehyde in indoor air.

[Study on formulation and revision of detection methods of "Standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022)" in China].

The formulation and revision of the detection methods of indoor air quality standards is an important, rigorous and delicate endeavor. This paper introduced the formulation and revision of the detection methods of the standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022), focusing on the revision process, revision principles, main adjustments and technical points of some key indicators to facilitate users to better understand and apply the detection methods in standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022).

[Interpretation of the World Society of Emergency Surgery Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Left Colonic Diverticulitis in the Elderly (2022 edition)].

Acute colonic diverticulitis is one of the most common clinical conditions encountered by surgeons in the acute setting. Acute left colonic diverticulitis in the elderly presents with unique epidemiological features when compared with younger patients. Elderly patients have a lower risk of recurrent episodes, higher in-hospital and postoperative mortality. An international multidisciplinary panel of experts from the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) formulated the guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of acute left colonic diverticulitis in the elderly (2022 edition). This article aims to interpret the guidelines statements on the following topics: diagnosis, management, non-surgical therapy and surgical technique.

[Analysis on clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats loci polymorphism of Yersinia pestis and its area distribution in Gansu province].

Objective: To study the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) loci polymorphism of Yersinia pestis and its area distribution in Gansu province. Methods: A total of 203 strains of Yersinia pestis isolated from 1962 to 2014 were selected for the culture and extraction of DNA. Three pairs of CRISPR primers were used to amplify the strain DNA by PCR, and the PCR products were sequenced. The groups and genotypes of strains were determined according to the spacer and spacer arrangement of CRISPR loci in the strain. Cluster analysis was done by using the software BioNumerics 5.10. Results: A total of 16 spacers, including 9 species of YPa loci, 4 species of YPb loci and 3 species of YPc loci, were found in the 203 strains of Yersinia pestis. A new spacer of a1' was found. The 203 strains were divided into 5 CRISPR genotypes and classified into 5 CRISPR clusters (Cb2, Ca7, Ca7', CaΔ5' and Ca35'). Each cluster showed significant area-specific characteristics, Cb2 was mainly distributed in Huining country and Pingchuan district, Ca7 was mainly found in Aksai Kazak autonomous country, Ca7' was mainly found in Xiahe country, Ca35' was mainly found in Subei Mongolia autonomous county and Yumen city and CaΔ5' was mainly distributed in Sunan Yugur autonomous county. Conclusions: The strains from different plague foci in Gansu were distinguished by CRISPR, all kinds of clusters showed the obvious area specific characteristics. It is important to study the evolution of Yersinia pestis in Gansu and trace the molecular biology origin of human plague.

[Correlational study on portal vein thrombosis of liver cirrhosis].

Objective: To study the relevant factors influencing the portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in patients with liver cirrhosis, and the effect of PVT formation on the complications and clinical manifestations of liver cirrhosis. And further investigate the treatment of PVT. Methods: 199 cirrhotic cases with portal vein thrombosis who were hospitalized from January 1, 2014 to October 31, 2018 were selected as PVT group. 199 cirrhotic cases without portal vein thrombosis during the same period were randomly selected as control group to collect the relevant clinical data. Univariate analysis and logistic regression model analysis were carried out on the factors that may affect the formation of PVT, and the complications of cirrhotic patients with PVT were statistically analyzed. According to different data, statistical analysis was performed by t-test, Z- test, χ2 test or Fisher's exact probability method. Results: Univariate analysis results showed that there were statistical differences (P < 0.05) between the two groups on the parts of etiologies of cirrhosis, portal vein width, white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, γ - glutamyltransferase, cholinesterase (CHE), blood sugar, total cholesterol, triglyceride, prothrombin time, fibrinogen and thrombin time. Logistic regression model analysis results showed that alcoholic cirrhosis [OR = 3.125 (95% confidence interval, 1.414-6.906), P = 0.005], and portal vein widening [OR = 5.814 (95% confidence interval, 2.746-12.307), P < 0.001] were independent influencing factors of PVT formation in cirrhosis. PVT formation in cirrhosis made patients more susceptible to leukopenia [OR = 1.594 (95% confidence interval, 1.015-2.502), P = 0.043] and CHE reduction [OR = 4.267 (95% confidence interval, 2.313-7.869) P < 0.001]. Gastroesophageal variceal bleeding, ascites, pleural effusion, esophageal varices, severe gastroesophageal varices, and hospitalization length were significantly elevated in PVT group than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Alcoholic cirrhosis and portal vein widening are the factors influencing the formation of PVT in liver cirrhosis. Patients with PVT in liver cirrhosis are more susceptible to leukopenia and CHE reduction. The formation of PVT makes patients with liver cirrhosis more susceptible to rupture and bleeding of gastroesophageal varices, severe gastroesophageal varices, ascites, and pleural effusion and other clinical manifestations, thereby prolonging the length of hospital stay.

Neuropilin1, a novel independent prognostic factor and therapeutic target in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer, and thus, has limited treatment options. Neuropilin1 (NRP1) is a multi-functional transmembrane protein that interacts with a number of signaling receptors and plays an important role in cancer progression. Previous studies demonstrated that the expression of NRP1 is activated and promotes the progression of breast cancer particularly in TNBC compared to other molecular subtypes; however, whether or not the level of NRP1 expression is related to the progression of TNBC warrants further study. In the current study, we determined the expression and function of NRP1 and evaluated the clinical significance of NRP1 in patients with TNBC. In addition, we determined whether or not an NRP1 antagonist potentiates the inhibitory effects of paclitaxel (PTX) in patients with TNBC. In our clinical study, NRP1 had higher expression in TNBC tissues than non-TNBC tissues at the same stage, and NRP1 was an independent prognostic factor. Specifically, the high expression of NRP1 was associated with shorter survival in TNBC patients. In addition, TNBC cells treated with NRP1 antagonist significantly potentiated the effect of PTX on cell proliferation, cell migration, and apoptosis. Our findings suggest that NRP1 expression can act as an independent prognostic factor for TNBC patients, and the combination of PTX and an NRP1 antagonist may be an effective treatment regimen for TNBC.

[Effect of ambient fine particulate matters exposure on nasal oxidative stress level in patients with allergic rhinitis in Taiyuan city].

Objective: To explore the effect of ambient fine particulate matters (PM(2.5)) exposure on nasal oxidative stress level in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: A panel of sixty AR patients was recruited as subjects. Four repeated measurements were carried out from June 2017 to January 2018. Nasal irrigation solution was collected and examined for malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Monitoring data of atmospheric pollutants and meteorological factors during measurement periods were also collected. Time activity pattern combined with micro-environment monitoring method was used to evaluate PM(2.5) exposure. Mixed effect model was applied to analyze the relationship between PM(2.5) exposure concentration and oxidative stress level. Results: 49 subjects accomplished the four repeated measurements, and the mean±SD of their age was (36.7±8.4) years old. The median of MDA and SOD in four measurement periods was 3.70, 3.70, 5.58, 6.24 nmol/ml, and 105.50, 102.50, 95.00, 96.50 U/ml. The concentration of PM(2.5) exposure in four measurement periods was (40.0±2.7), (41.5±2.5), (52.3±5.9) and (74.7±4.9) µg/m(3), respectively. Results of single pollutant mixed effect model analysis showed that 0-, 1-, 2-, 3-day lag concentrations of PM(2.5) was significantly positively associated with MDA, about ß (95%CI) estimated as 0.24 (0.17, 0.30), 0.34 (0.27, 0.41), 0.32 (0.20, 0.44) and 0.33 (0.23, 0.43), respectively. 0-, 1-, 2-day concentrations of PM(2.5) was significantly negatively associated with SOD, about ß (95%CI) estimated as -0.99 (-1.66, -0.31), -1.35 (-2.08, -0.62) and -0.94 (-1.80, -0.07), respectively. Multivariate analysis found that lag 1-day concentration of PM(2.5) was still significantly associated with MDA and SOD after controlling for temperature, age and other influencing factors. For a 10 µg/m(3) increase of PM(2.5) concentration, MDA increased 0.26 (95%CI: 0.18, 0.33) nmol/ml, and SOD decreased 0.87 (95%CI: 0.21, 1.53) U/ml. Conclusion: Our results suggested that PM(2.5) exposure can aggravate the nasal oxidative stress response of AR patients.

Expressions of VEGF and miR-21 in tumor tissues of cervical cancer patients with HPV infection and their relationships with prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and micro-ribonucleic acid-21 (miR-21) in cervical cancer patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and determine the potential relationships with prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Expressions of VEGF in cervical cancer tissues and cancer-adjacent tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the expressions of miR-21 and VEGF in both tissues were quantitatively analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Patients with cervical cancer were followed up after operation, and the survival rates of patients with different expression levels of miR-21 and VEGF were compared. RESULTS: VEGF was expressed in both cervical cancer tissues and cancer-adjacent tissues. The positive expression rate of VEGF in cervical cancer tissues (75.69%) was significantly higher than that in cancer-adjacent tissues (10.45%). RT-PCR results showed that the expression levels of miR-21 and VEGF in cervical cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in cancer-adjacent tissues (p<0.05). Correlation analyses revealed that miR-21 expression was significantly positively correlated with VEGF expression in cervical cancer tissues (r2=0.4174, p<0.0001). Prognostic analyses showed that the 5-year survival rate of patients was relatively high when miR-21 and VEGF were lowly expressed. CONCLUSIONS: VEGF and miR-21 are highly expressed in tumor tissues of cervical cancer patients with HPV infection. VEGF expression is significantly positively correlated with miR-21 expression, and the high levels of VEGF and miR-21 predict unfavorable prognosis of cervical cancer. Data provide a theoretical support for clinical treatment of cervical cancer patients with HPV infection.

[Assessing the consistency of methods to measure travel behavior related to exposure to air pollution].

Objective: To compare diary-reported trips and Global Positioning System (GPS) recording trips and identify the reasons for the discrepancies between two methods. Methods: The survey was conducted in Jiangning district in Nanjing city during July to September and November to December, 2015. Both the diary records and GPS method were used to investigate the travel behavior of 33 retired adults for 5 consecutive days. The GPS traces were display in Google Earth and then split into trips to compare with the diary records according to time and location. χ(2) test was used to analyze the influence of trip characteristics on misreporting rates of each method. Results: A total of 1 087 trips in the survey can be compared between the diary (n=909) and the GPS method (n=912). 7.3% (79/1 087) of the trips were only recorded by GPS method, and 11.8% (128/1 087) were only reported in the diary. Of the remaining 880 trips recorded by the both methods, 86.7% (763/880) matched each other, while 13.3% (117/880) did not. For the matched trips, the difference between the trip durations recorded by diary and GPS method was 2.0 (quartile was 6.0) minutes and the diary method overestimated about 25.0% trip durations when compared with the GPS method. The accuracy rates were 84.8%(903/1 065) and 86.9%(925/1 065) for diary and GPS method, respectively. Both methods were more likely to misreport the trip under 5 minutes. The misreporting rates of diary method for trips under 5 minutes were 6.8 times higher than trips over 30 minutes (21.7% vs 3.2%). The reporting accuracy was also significantly different among trips by different travel mode (P<0.05) for both methods, diary method had the lowest accuracy in reporting vehicles recorders (69.3%, 133/192), while GPS method was more accuracy in both biking (91.9%, 136/148) and vehicles recorders(89.6%, 172/192). The main reasons for misreporting by diary method were forgetting or unwilling to record and failing to record trips according to travel mode, while forgetting to carry GPS device, bad GPS signal and failing to locate the position were the main reasons for misreporting by GPS method. Conclusion: The majority of the trips reported in diary and GPS method are well consistent with each other. Both of the methods should be used simultaneously in the survey of time-activity pattern to improve the data quality.

[Review of survey method for human time-activity pattern and its application in the exposure assessment of air pollutants].

Time activity pattern refers to the time and behavior of people at different locations. The knowledge of time-activity pattern is essential for air pollution exposure assessment when direct personal exposure monitoring can't not be conducted, because air pollutant concentrations may vary significantly by location and activity. This review is focused on the survey method for human time-activity pattern and its application in the exposure assessment of air pollutants. After comparing the diary-reported trips and Global Positioning System (GPS) recording method, we believed that diary-reported trips were more reliable in describing comprehensive and detail records of the behavior and environmental circumstances while GPS-recorded trend to maintain sound information of time, location and transportations. Meanwhile, according to different subjects, the air pollution exposure model could be divided for population and individuals. There were great difference between two types of model in many areas, including the required information about time, activity and microenvironment.

[Correlation between serum uric acid level and acute renal injury after coronary artery bypass grafting].

Objective: To evaluate whether early postoperative serum uric acid level can predict postoperative acute renal injury (AKI) among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: The study retrospectively enrolled 1 306 patients undergoing CABG in Fuwai Hospital between September 2012 and December 2013. The patients were divided into 5 groups by the concentrations of serum uric acid measured on the morning of the first postoperative day, and uric acid categories were as follow: less than 195 µmol/L (Q1 group, 262 cases), 195-236 µmol/L (Q2 group, 263 cases), 237-280 µmol/L (Q3 group, 260 cases), 281-336 µmol/L (Q4 group, 261 cases), more than 336 µmol/L (Q5 group, 260 cases). The primary end points were AKI (RIFLE criteria), severe AKI (AKI≥stage Ⅰ), postoperative continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) requirement, in-hospital death, length of stay in hospital and intensive care unit(ICU). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to determine the ability of the early postoperative serum uric acid level as a risk factor for postoperative AKI prediction. Results: Among the 1 306 patients enrolled in the study, AKI was found in 335 patients (25.65%). After adjusting for variables that were different between the 5 groups, the Q5 group had significantly higher risk of AKI, AKI≥ stage Ⅰ and the requirement of CRRT (P<0.01). The ROC for the outcome of postoperative AKI had an AUC of 0.648 (95% CI: 0.612-0.683) when serum creatinine levels alone were used and 0.722 (95% CI: 0.688-0.755) when serum uric acid levels alone were used (both P<0.001). Early postoperative serum uric acid was a better predictor than serum creatinine(P<0.001). Conclusion: The serum uric acid concentration within 12 hours after operation is an independent predictor of postoperative AKI in patients undergoing CABG, which could be used to identify patients at high risk for AKI.

A combined partially threaded cancellous lag screw for achieving maximum compressive force without compromising pullout strength.

OBJECTIVE: The partially threaded cancellous lag screw (PTLS) could not provide maximum compressive force (C(MAX)) for compression due to compromised pullout strength (POS). The combined partially threaded cancellous lag screw (CPTLS) could provide higher C(MAX) than PTLS. However, the change of POS at the point of C(MAX) when using CPTLS for compression has never been explored. The aim of this study was to determine whether POS decreased at the point of C(MAX) during CPTLS compression for different bone mineral densities (BMDs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three synthetic cancellous bone blocks were used for this study, and the BMDs were 0.12 g/cm³, 0.16 g/cm³, and 0.20 g/cm³, respectively. 20 pilot holes with 3.2 mm diameters were prepared equably in each block. A CPTLS was inserted through the custom-designed measuring device into a pilot hole manually until failure for measuring C(MAX), and the pullout test was done with the identical CPTLS for measuring POS. RESULTS: The C(MAX) and POS of the CPTLS were not significantly different in the three specimens, and the ratios of the mean C(MAX) to the mean POS were very similar in the three specimens (0.98 in the 0.12 g/cc specimen, 1.01 in the 0.16 g/cc specimen and 0.98 in the 0.20 g/cc specimen). CONCLUSIONS: C(MAX) is achieved without a decrease in POS during CPTLS compression independent of the BMD.

The new shank construct of lag screw improves the maximum compression force for internal fixations: preliminary results.

OBJECTIVE: The treatment of osteoporotic intra-articular fractures with AO lag screws remained challenging due to insufficient compression. Several strategies to improve the compressive ability of lag screws have been evaluated. However, the effect of the shank construct on the compressive ability of lag screw has never been explored. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a shank construction the compressive ability of lag screw for different bone mineral densities (BMDs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three synthetic cancellous bone blocks were used for this study, including 0.12 g/cc, 0.16 g/cc, and 0.20 g/cc. 24 pilot holes with 3.2 mm diameters were drilled equably in each block. An AO lag screw and a combined lag screw with the newly designed compound shank construct were inserted through the custom-designed measuring device into a pilot hole by hand until failure, and the maximum compressive force (CMAX) was determined. RESULTS: Among three densities specimens CMAX of the combined lag screw was significantly higher than that of the AO lag screw (p < 0.001), and the mean CMAX difference value of the two screws in a specimen increased as the BMD increased. The CMAX of two screws increased as the BMD increased (p < 0.001), and the amplification of the CMAX generated by the combined lag screw was higher than that generated by the AO lag screw when the BMD increased. CONCLUSIONS: The newly designed compound shank construct improves the compressive ability of lag screws independent of the BMD.

Differential expression and effect of the porcine ANGPTL4 gene on intramuscular fat.

In a previous study, we investigated differences in gene expression in backfat between Meishan and Large White pigs and their F1 hybrids, Large White x Meishan, and Meishan x Large White pigs. One potential differentially expressed sequence tag from the mRNA differential display was a homolog of the human angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) gene, which encodes a protein that is secreted by both liver and white adipose tissues and can inhibit lipoprotein lipase activity and stimulate white adipose tissue lipolysis. Here, ANGPTL4 mRNA was found to be upregulated in the backfat of Large White compared with that in the Meishan pigs and the F1 hybrids, Meishan x Large White and Large White x Meishan, whereas expression was lowest both in the longissimus dorsi and the heart, as shown by the tissue distribution profile. Only one mutation, a G/A transition located in the third intron, was found. The ANGPTL4 G/A polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) showed a significant effect on intramuscular fat (IMF), water moisture of the longissimus dorsi, meat marbling of the longissimus dorsi, and pH of the longissimus dorsi (P < 0.05). This site seemed to be significantly (P < 0.05) additive in its actions on IMF, water moisture, and pH, whereas it showed significant dominance in its action on meat marbling (P < 0.05). This locus can be potentially considered as a marker for IMF improvement.

First Report of Fusarium Wilt of Tobacco Caused by Fusarium kyushuense in China.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is a leafy, annual, solanaceous plant grown commercially for its leaves. China accounts for more than 39.6% of total global tobacco production (3). In May 2012, seedlings of tobacco cv. Honghuadajinyuan in a Guiyang tobacco commercial field (Guizhou, China, 26.35° N, 106.42° E) developed symptoms of severe wilting, chlorosis, and stunting. The main stem and taproot exhibited reddish to light brown vascular discoloration; further progression of these symptoms eventually caused mortality of infected seedlings. To isolate the causal agent, necrotic tissues from the symptomatic root were placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 25°C in darkness. Colonies with white to rose mycelia and red-brown colony colors developed on PDA after 5 days of incubation. Microconidia were abundant, straight or slightly curved, clavate, 0- to 3-septate, and 7.5 to 20.0 × 2.5 to 5.0 µm. Macroconidia were straight or slightly curved, slender, 3- to 5-septate, and 25.0 to 45.0 × 3.3 to 5.0 µm. Based on the observed colony attributes, growth patterns, absence of chlamydospores, micro- and macro-spore attributes (1), and PCR amplification (using primers ITS1/4) combined with translation elongation factor primers (EF1/2) (2), the fungus was identified as F. kyushuense O'Donnell & T. Aoki. Sequence of ITS1-5.8s-ITS2 region of rDNA (GenBank Accession No. JX235957) exactly matched the sequences of F. kyushuense accession AB587020.1 (100% similarity). Analysis of the elongation factor (EF-1alpha) gene of the fungus (JX658565) resulted in a 99% match for F. kyushuense accession AB674297.1. Pathogenicity of the fungus was confirmed by performing Koch's postulate as follows. Pure cultures of the fungus F. kyushuense obtained from symptomatic tissues of tobacco seedlings were grown on PDA for 6 days. Tobacco plants to be used in pathogenicity tests were germinated and grown on potting soils in a plastic container. Additional fertilization was supplied by adding 0.2 g/L of 20-20-20 (N-P-K) in the float water. When seedlings got 6-leaf stage, they were ready for pathogenicity tests. Spores harvested from these culture plates were suspended in sterile distilled water, adjusted to a concentration of 1 × 104 conidia/ml, and inoculated by irrigating 10 ml of the conidia suspension onto roots of each of the 12 tobacco seedlings with 6-leaf stage. A group of 12 seedlings of the same age treated with sterile water served as control. Inoculated seedlings were maintained at 25°C, 100 µE m-2.s-1, relative humidity >70%, and 16 h light per day, and monitored for 9 days for symptom development. Seedlings inoculated with conidia developed disease symptoms with roots with vascular discoloration of roots whereas control seedlings remained symptomless. F. kyushuense was reisolated from the symptomatic seedlings 9 days after inoculation. F. kyushuense has also been isolated from rice seeds in China (4), and from diseased wheat in Japan (1). The common tobacco Fusarium disease reported in China was caused by F. oxysporium f. sp. nicotianae. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of F. kyushuense causing wilt on tobacco in China and the disease must be considered in existing disease management practices. References: (1) T. Aoki and K. O'Donnell. Mycoscience. 39:1, 1998. (2) D. M. Geiser et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 110:473, 2004. (3) US Census Bureau. Foreign Trade Statistics. Washington DC, 2005. (4) Z. H. Zhao and G. Z. Lu. Mycotaxon. 102:119, 2007.

The gender disparity of immunoreactants in lesional skin of lupus erythematosus patients.

OBJECTIVES: The immunoreactants detected by direct immunofluorescence (DIF) from the skin of patients with lupus erythematosus (LE) were related to disease subtypes and skin morphology. Male patients presented more frequently with discoid rashes and females with malar rashes. We investigated the differences in immunoreactants in skin lesions between male and female LE patients. METHODS: The DIF records of 186 LE patients were reviewed and analysed. RESULTS: Among 186 patients (133 female and 53 male), 54 had cutaneous LE (CLE) and 132 had systemic LE (SLE). In the CLE group, eight of 33 (24.2%) women were DIF+ versus nine of 21(42.9%) men (p=0.23). In the SLE group, 49 of 100 (49%) women were DIF+ versus 17 of 32 (53.1%) men (p=0.84). The p-value was 0.01 when comparing DIF incidence between female CLE and SLE patients. IgM and complement component 3 (C3) were present in 84.2% and 52.6% of DIF+female patients, respectively, and both were comparable between genders (p>0.05). However, IgG was observed only in eight of 57 female patients, and in 10 of 26 male patients (p=0.02). Among DIF+CLE patients, IgG was detected in none of the eight female versus three of nine male patients. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of immunoreactants in skin had no gender bias in CLE or SLE, but among women, it was probably lower in CLE than SLE. IgM and C3 were the most frequent immunoreactants in skin with no gender disparity, whereas IgG in female patients was lower than in males.

Molecular characterization, expression pattern and association analysis of the porcine BTG2 gene.

B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2), a member of the B-cell translocation gene family with anti-proliferative properties, have been characterized to be involved in cell growth, differentiation and survival. In this study, we cloned the full length sequences of cDNA and genomic DNA of BTG2 gene from the porcine skeletal muscle. Spatial expression analysis showed that the porcine BTG2 gene is expressed predominantly in muscle. Temporal expression analysis in longissimus dorsi muscle demonstrated that the expression of BTG2 gene has the highest expression at 60 days old in Large White while with a peak expression at 120 days old in Meishan. Temporal analysis also revealed that the expression of BTG2 gene is generally higher in Large White than in Meishan at all the developmental stages tested (65 days of conception and 3, 35, 60, 120, and 180 days of postnatal). A single nucleotide polymorphism (G417C) in the intron of BTG2 gene was then detected by PCR-RFLP in Large White × Meishan F2 resource population and association analysis suggested that this polymorphic site had significant association (P < 0.05) with the buttock fat thickness, fat percentage, lean muscle percentage, ratio of lean to fat and carcass length.

Enhanced tumor suppression in vitro and in vivo by co-expression of survivin-specific siRNA and wild-type p53 protein.

The development of malignant prostate cancer involves multiple genetic alterations. For example, alterations in both survivin and p53 are reported to have crucial roles in prostate cancer progression. However, little is known regarding the interrelationships between p53 and survivin in prostate cancer. Our data demonstrate that the expression of survivin is inversely correlated with that of wtp53 protein (r(s)=0.548) in prostate cancer and in normal prostate tissues. We have developed a therapeutic strategy, in which two antitumor factors, small interfering RNA-survivin and p53 protein, are co-expressed from the same plasmid, and have examined their effects on the growth of PC3, an androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line. When p53 was expressed along with a survivin-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA), tumor cell proliferation was significantly suppressed and apoptosis occurred. In addition, this combination also abrogated the expression of downstream target molecules such as cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and c-Myc, while enhancing the expression of GRIM19. These changes in gene expression occurred distinctly in the presence of survivin-shRNA/wtp53 compared with control or single treatment groups. Intratumoral injection of the co-expressed construct inhibited the growth and survival of tumor xenografts in a nude mouse model. These studies revealed evidence of an interaction between p53 and survivin proteins plus a complex signaling network operating downstream of the wtp53-survivin pathway that actively controls tumor cell proliferation, survival and apoptosis.