[Genotype-phenotype analysis of Fabry disease caused by GLA gene variation in a pedigree].

Objective: To investigate the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of patients with Fabry disease caused by a GLA variant, IVS4+919G>A. Methods: It was a prospective study. Fabry disease screening was conducted among high-risk population in Ninghai from October 2021 to August 2023. Those children with decreased α-galactosidase enzyme activity<2.40 µmol/(L·h) or elavated Lyso-GL-3 level>1.10 µg/L in dried blood spot (DBS) method underwent GLA genetic testing for diagnosis confirmation. Meanwhile, family screening was carried out. A proband and his family members diagnosed with Fabry disease were research subjects. The clinical and genetic characteristics of patients with Fabry disease caused by the GLA variant (IVS4+919G>A) were analyzed. Results: The female proband aged 9.8 years with pain in both lower limbs as the initial symptom was found to have a heterozygous GLA variant IVS4+919G>A among 102 patients. In family screening, there were 4 family members (proband's father, elder sister, elder male cousin and elder female cousin) with Fabry disease and a family member (proband's fifth aunt) with a GLA variant. Among these 4 diagnosed family members, the elder male cousin of the proband, a boy aged 13.2 years had a heterozygous GLA variant, IVS4+919G>A with intermittent pain in both lower limbs as the initial symptom. The proband's father had knee joint pain. The proband's elder sister had decreased vision and his elder female cousin had no obvious symptoms. The proband's fifth aunt with a GLA variant had decreased vision. Conclusions: High-risk screening in children and family screening are helpful for early diagnosis and treatment of Fabry disease. Neuropathic pain may be a early symptom in children with Fabry disease caused by the GLA variant, IVS4+919G>A.

Simulated microgravity inhibits the proliferation and osteogenesis of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

OBJECTIVES: Microgravity is known to affect the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). However, a few controversial findings have recently been reported with respect to the effects of microgravity on BMSC proliferation. Thus, we investigated the effects of simulated microgravity on rat BMSC (rBMSC) proliferation and their osteogeneic potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: rBMSCs isolated from marrow using our established effective method, based on erythrocyte lysis, were identified by their surface markers and their proliferation characteristics under normal conditions. Then, they were cultured in a clinostat to simulate microgravity, with or without growth factors, and in osteogenic medium. Subsequently, proliferation and cell cycle parameters were assessed using methylene blue staining and flow cytometry, respectively; gene expression was determined using Western blotting and microarray analysis. RESULTS: Simulated microgravity inhibited population growth of the rBMSCs, cells being arrested in the G(0)/G(1) phase of cell cycle. Growth factors, such as insulin-like growth factor-I, epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblastic growth factor, markedly stimulated rBMSC proliferation in normal gravity, but had only a slight effect in simulated microgravity. Akt and extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 phosphorylation levels and the expression of core-binding factor alpha1 decreased after 3 days of clinorotation culture. Microarray and gene ontology analyses further confirmed that rBMSC proliferation and osteogenesis decreased under simulated microgravity. CONCLUSIONS: The above data suggest that simulated microgravity inhibits population growth of rBMSCs and their differentiation towards osteoblasts. These changes may be responsible for some of the physiological changes noted during spaceflight.

[Synergism of sobuzoxane in combination with doxorubicin against leukemia P388 in mice].

AIM: To study the antitumor activity of sobuzoxane (Sob) in combination with doxorubicin (Dox) and the effect of Sob on Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. METHODS: DBA/2 mice bearing transplanted leukemia P388 were given i.v. Dox 2 mg.kg-1.d-1 for 3 d, 4 mg.kg-1.d-1 for 1 d combined with ig Sob 20, 40 mg.kg-1.d-1 for 7 d. The increase in life span (ILS) of each group was recorded in 30 d. The myocardium of moribund mice was examined by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: The ILS of combination therapeutic groups of Sob with Dox was 48.7%, 57.3%, 59.0%, and 62.4% respectively, which were 30%-90% higher than the sum of ILS of two groups treated with Dox and Sob separately (P < 0.01). The ultrastructural injury of cardiomyocytes of P388-bearing mice caused by combination chemotherapy with Dox plus Sob was markedly attenuated compared with Dox alone. CONCLUSION: Sob with Dox exhibited an antitumor synergistic effect on leukemia P388, and the cardiotoxicity of Dox was reduced by Sob.

[Characterization of a fluorouracil-resistant human gastric carcinoma cell line and its morphological behavior].

A fluorouracil (FU)-resistant human carcinoma cell line (SGC-7901/R) was established in culture by progressively increasing the concentration of FU from 50 ng.ml-1 to 2.5 mg.ml-1. The cell line has been successfully subcultured for more than 150 passages during more than 2 years. Its degree of FU resistance was 139-fold vs that of FU sensitive cell line (SGC-7901/S), and the resistant phenotype was stable when cells were cultured for 23 passages in FU-free medium. The doubling time was 17.3 and 25.6 h for resistant cells and parental cells, respectively. Swiss (nu/nu) nude mice were used for the in vivo experiment, the FU-resistant cell line also exhibited resistance to FU and cross-resistance to mitomycin C. FU inhibited markedly the incorporation of [3H]UR into sensitive cells and only showed a 31.6% inhibition with FU 100 micrograms.ml-1 in resistant cells. For the incorporation of [3H]TdR into DNA, inhibitory rates were seen with different concentrations of FU in resistant cells. By morphologic observation, SGC-7901/R cells showed little secretion but without any tendency to glandular pattern. Their nuclei were allotype with enlarged perinuclear space and a few intranuclear pseudoinclusions. The mitotic phase of cells was found frequently. The phenotype of resistant cell line can be deduced more malignant than that of parental cell line.

Effect of L-4-oxalysine on ultrastructures of liver cells in mice.

Mice were given ig L-4-oxalysine (I-677) 10, 50, and 100 mg.kg-1.d-1 for 7 d. On d 8 the hepatocytes showed accumulation of lipid droplets followed by loss of matrices in cytoplasm. The total area of lipid droplets was far less than 25% of mean section of hepatocytes. The injury of mitochondria and RER was only found in the groups of medium and high dose. The lipidoses and regional topolysis of cytoplasm graduated away at same pace. After 4 wk the hepatocytes were restored to normal. Such finding suggests that the site of action of I-677 be at the cytoplasmic ground substance. The inhibition of protein synthesis causes a decrease in albumin carrier, that may be the main mechanism of steatosis of liver cells induced by I-677.

[Influence of laurocapram on ultrastructures of mouse skin and sarcoma 180 membrane].

Laurocapram (Lau), 1-dodecyl-hexahydro-2 H-azepin-2-one, (azone) is a new percutaneous penetration enhancer. However, the mechanism of its action for absorption promoter of other agents is still unknown. In this paper the effect of Lau on ultrastructures of skin surface and tumor cell membrane were studies. Lau (2%) suspension was applied to abdominal skin of ICR/JCL, C 57 BL mice or one side of abdominal skin of nude mouse with drug and other side with the vehicle solvent once daily for 2-3 d. The skin was excised at 4 h after the final medication for examination under scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed the numerous small infolding lines which divided the skin surface into small areas with vesiculation and peeled the epidermal surface to form a few minor holes. The cuticles of the hair shaft dropped off and became thinner. Numerous desquamated cells around the orifice of the hair were fractured, detached and widened. Sarcoma 180 cells were incubated with Lau 25 micrograms/ml at 37 degrees C for 4 h. The microvilli of some cells dropped off and the size of villi became thinner and shorter. The top of some villi of the cells appeared occasionally thick to make the profile as a bat. The surface of numerous naked cells became rugged and rough and showed many black minor holes in the area of denuded cell membrane or dropped microvilli. More than 100 holes in the exposed surface of the naked cell were seen. It seemed that the Lau drilled holes on the biomembrane and enlarged the orifice of hair follicles and thus enhanced the transdermal absorption.

[Light and electron microscopic observations on effects of tribendimidin on cuticle of Necator americanus and small intestinal mucosa of infected golden hamsters].

Golden hamsters infected with Necator americanus were treated orally with a new anthilmintic tribendimidin (N, N'-[bis-4'-(1-dimethyl amino ethylidene amino)phenyl] 1,4-phenyene dimethylidyne amine) at a single dose of 150 mg/kg. One h after medication, some worms showed cuticular swelling, fusion of transverse striations and attachment of host leucocytes onto the worm's damaged cuticular surface. Four h post treatment, the cuticle revealed a moderate swelling or even erosion. Meanwhile, the ventral cutting plates appeared to be swollen. After 8-24 h, severe cuticular swelling, erosion and peeling in female worm tails and male copulatory bursa were seen. No increases in lesions in the small intestinal mucosa of infected golden hamsters were observed 4-8 h after medication.

[Transplantation model of human lung oat cell carcinoma in nude mice].

A human lung oat cell carcinoma from a surgical specimen was successfully transplanted into nude mice and has been maintained for over four years through 14 passages. This transplanted tumor had a long latent period of more than one month, slowly growing in the initial inoculation and the following passages. The interval between two passages was about four months. 5 months after the inoculation, the transplanted tumor in nude mice grew to 2 cm in diameter. It was demonstrated that the transplanted tumor possessed the human isoenzyme pattern and human chromosome karyotype. The original human tumor and its transplanted counterparts in the nude mice were strikingly similar by histopathology. Besides, specific neuro-secretory granules in cytoplasm of the transplanted tumor were observed under transmission electron microscope.

[Ultrastructural study on the model of human lung adenocarcinoma heterotransplanted to nude mice].

A human lung adenocarcinoma from surgical biopsy specimen was successfully heterotransplanted into nude mice and has been maintained for 40 generations. The experiments were made on 6-8 week old male or female nude mice with Swiss genetic background cultivated in specific pathogen-free condition. The electron microscopic observation on transplanted tumor of passages 2, 6, 12, 18 and 23 revealed that the ultrastructural features of this tumor were strictly maintained and no obvious change of differentiation was found. But there was a potential prone to regional squamous epithelial metaplasia in the transplanted tumor. The nude mice model of human lung adenocarcinoma so established can be used as a good experimental system of the homologous and reproducible human cancer for the study of basic medical sciences and chemotherapy of human lung carcinoma.