Altered patterns of gene expression distinguishing unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms from ruptured ones: comprehensive analysis of inflammatory factors.

The purpose of this study was to profile altered patterns of gene expression that characterize abdominal aortic aneurysm and to compare these patterns between different conditions, unruptured (URA) and ruptured (RA). Full-thickness aortic wall tissues were obtained from patients during surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm, including unruptured (n=29) and ruptured (n=11). RNA, protein and blood samples were prepared for each specimen, and differential levels of gene expression between unruptured and ruptured abdominal aortic tissues were assessed by immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR and ELISA assays. Biochemical assay showed that triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration in the peripheral blood of URA and UA patients with large size of aneurysm (>5 cm) was significantly increased compared with those with small size of aneurysm (3-5 cm). Of 7 genes examined, TRPV1, CAM, TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1 and VCAM were significantly increased in RA patients compared with URA patients, which also showed markedly increased expression in large size of aneurysm, with TRPV1 and CAM exception in RA patients. Only PPARδ expression observed decrease in RA patients with larger size of aneurysm. Taken together, URA and RA exhibit distinct patterns of gene expression, with most alterations being unique to this disease. Abdominal aortic aneurysm arising in different sizes of aneurysm is thus characterized by a high degree of molecular heterogeneity, reflecting different pathophysiologic mechanisms.

Intestinal T-cell lymphomas: a retrospective analysis of 68 cases in China.

AIM: To investigate the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of intestinal T-cell lymphomas (ITCL) by retrospective analysis. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients who were diagnosed with ITCL in case reports in the Chinese literature were compiled and reviewed. Age, gender, CD56 expression, surgical management, multifocal nature, perforation and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy were analyzed as the prognostic factors. The Kaplan-Meier method was adopted for the univariate analysis and the cumulative survival curve analysis. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio was 1.52 to 1. The median age was 41.7 years. Twenty-seven patients had symptoms of abdominal pain or diarrhea. Thirty-six of 60 patients with temperature records had high fevers at the onset of the illness. Twenty-six of 34 patients who underwent fiberoptic colonoscopy were misdiagnosed with Crohn's disease, intestinal tuberculosis or cancer. Sixty-one patients underwent surgery. Twelve of 61 surgical patients required a second operation for anastomotic leakage or secondary perforation. The sites of lesion involvement were the jejunum (8.82%), ileum (29.41%), ileum and colon (4.41%), colon (55.88%) and appendix (1.47%). The median cumulative survival rate was 3 mo (3.00 ± 0.48). CONCLUSION: Efforts should be made to correctly diagnose ITCL and select the proper operative approach that may reduce serious complications and create opportunities for further treatment.

[FUT1 gene polymorphism and its association with litter size in pigs].

The genetic variations of FUT1 gene at nucleotide position 307 of its open reading frame were investigated by PCR-RFLP in a total of 245 pigs from 3 exotic pig breeds and 3 Chinese native pig breeds. Results showed that the genetic polymorphisms of the FUT1 locus were only detected in the 3 exotic pig breeds. There were 3 different genotypes and the majority were the susceptible forms including GG and AG. All Chinese native pig breeds only presented the susceptible genotype GG. Univariate analysis of variance components indicated that FUT 1 gene and the type of breeds significantly affected total number born, whereas parities did not. None of these factors significantly affected the number of liveborns.

Effects of the MyoG gene on the partial growth traits in pigs.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the MyoG gene were tested using PCR-SSCP in different pig breeds including Landrace, Large White, Duroc, Shanxi Black, and Mashen pigs, and the effects of the MyoG gene on the birth weight, the weaning weight, the 6-month body weight, and the backfat thickness were also analyzed. On the basis of the published sequence of the porcine MyoG gene, ten pairs of primers were designed, and one polymorphism was found in the PCR product amplified with In2-3 primers. The results showed that: (1) the Landrace, the Large White, and the Duroc breeds differ significantly (P < 0.05) in genotype distribution from the Shanxi Black and the Mashen breeds; (2) On the basis of the fixed effect model, significant differences were found in the birth weight and the backfat thickness among the different MyoG genotypes, whereas no significant differences existed in the weaning weight and the 6-month body weight; (3) Using least square analysis, it was seen that individuals of the BB genotype had significantly less (P < 0.01) birth weight than those of the AA and AB genotypes, with the order being AA>AB>BB; the pigs of the AA genotype had significantly lower (P < 0.01) backfat thickness than those of the AB and BB genotypes, with the order being AA

[Research on the polymorphism of heart fatty acid-binding protein gene in Shanxi pig breeds and their crossbred populations using PCR-RFLP].

The genetic variation in 5' - upstream (Hinf I -RFLP)and the second intron (Hinf I *-RFLP, Hae III-RFLP)of heart fatty acid-binding protein(H-FABP)gene were detected with PCR-RFLP in 286 pigs including Mashen, Shanxi white pig and their crossbred populations. The results showed as follows: (1)Mashen presented only DD genotype while other populations varied,and Mashen crossbred populations had only 2 genotypes(DD, Dd) at the Hae III-RFLP site; (2)At the Hinf I -RFLP site of the 5' -upstream region, the crossbred population of Shanxi white pig and Duroc presented only HH genotype while other populations varied. Frequency of h allele in Mashen was 0.9727. (3)At the Hinf I *-RFLP site of the second intron, only Mashen presented 2 genotypes (BB, Bb), and frequency of B allele was 0.9667. (4)At the Hae III-RFLP and Hinf I *-RFLP sites, all populations were in Hardy-weinberg equilibrium.

[Progress on the sheep genome project].

During the last few years,advances in livestock genome projects have been remarkable. Species-specific genetic maps exist for pig, chicken, cattle, sheep, horse,and deer with marker intervals of 5 to 20 cM. These maps have been essential for the identification of genes and genetic markers associated with importantly economic traits in livestock. In this paper, advances of gene map, comparative map, the genes for importantly economic traits and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping were briefly introduced in sheep.

[Molecular biology of the retinol-binding proteins and their genes].

Retinol-binding proteins (RBPs) are a kind of circulating carrier proteins for serum and cellular retinol and retinol acid, which are lipid-soluble vitamins, and are members of hydrophobic binding protein family. Serum RBPs were synthesized primarily in liver, then was released into blood streams, and then to various tissues. Under the interaction with substances such as retinol, pre-albumin and the receptors of cellular surface, they play important roles in storage, metabolism of VitA and transport of VitA to the target cells. Cellular RBPs play the similar function as serum RBPs in intracell. This review introduces action mechanism, tissue localization and developmental expression of retinol-binding proteins. This review also introduces the structure, chromosome mapping and their relationships with reproductive performance of retinol-binding protein genes.

[Genetic variation of A-FABP microsatellites in eleven pig breeds].

The genetic variations of microsatellites in intron 2 of the porcine adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) genes were investigated in 420 pigs including Wuzhishan pig, Yimeng black pig, Hanjiang black pig, Laiwu pig, Beijing black pig, Min pig, Chenghua pig, Neijiang pig, Erhualian pig, Bama xiang pig and Large White pig. The results suggested as follows: (i)PIC of the Wuzhishan pig breed is the highest (0.7904) and 11 alleles were detected. Compared with Large White pig,Chinese pig breeds showed a great polymorphism of A-FABP microsatellites except Beijing black pig in which only 2 alleles were detected. (ii) Only Min pig, Bama xiang pig, Beijing black pig and Large White pig were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. (iii) The analysis of genetic differentiation showed that the average value of the A-FABP gene differentiation of 10 Chinese pigs is about 40.83%.

[Advances on inhibin genes].

Inhibins are gonadal glycoprotein hormones belonging to the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily that act to suppress pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone synthesis and secretion. In this paper, we briefly introduced the cloning, structure, localization, polymorphism, expression, molecular regulation of inhibin-alpha(INHA), -betaA (INHBA) and -beta B (INHBB) subunit genes and their relationships with reproductive performance and cancer. The inhibin genes (INHA, INHBA and INHBB) had significant effect on litter size in sheep. The ovine INHA, INHBA and INHBB genes had been mapped to chromosomes 2q41-->q43, 4q26 and 2q31-->q33, respectively. The female mice carrying INHBB mutations suffered from distinct developmental and reproductive defects. The INHA gene was significantly associated with premature ovarian failure in women.

[The research advance of candidate genes affecting economic traits in pigs].

With the accomplishment of human genome project and the development of animal genome project, many major genes affecting animal economic traits were gradually detected, and they show great application prospect. Major genes affecting reproductive traits, meat quality traits,growing and developing traits of pig are summarized from their size, location and effect. In addition, the meaning of major gene in the improvement of animal breeding and genetics is also discussed.