Molecular cloning, polymorphisms, and expression analysis of the RERG gene in indigenous Chinese goats.

The current study aimed to investigate the coding sequence, polymorphisms, and expression of the RERG gene in indigenous Chinese goats. cDNA of RERG, obtained through reverse transcription PCR was analyzed using bioinformatic techniques. Polymorphisms in the exon regions of the RERG gene were identified and their associations with growth traits in three varieties of indigenous Chinese goats were investigated. Expression of the RERG gene in three goat breeds of the same age was detected using real-time quantitative PCR. The results revealed that the cDNA of RERG, which contained a complete open reading frame of 20-620 bp, was 629 bp in length. The associated accession numbers in GenBank are JN672576, JQ917222, and JN580309 for the QianBei Ma goat, the GuiZhou white goat, and the GuiZhou black goat, respectively. Four consistent SNP sites were found in the exon regions of the RERG gene for the three goat breeds. mRNA expression of the RERG gene differed between different tissues in adult goats of same age. The highest expression was observed in lung and spleen tissues, while the lowest expression was recorded in thymus gland tissue. In addition, the expression of the RERG gene in the muscle of Guizhou white goat, GuiZhou black goat, and QianBei Ma goat decreased sequentially. Our results lay the foundations for further investigation into the role of the RERG gene in goat growth traits.

Study of the relationship between the expression of nerve growth factor and aneurysm formation and prognosis.

We sought to investigate the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) expression on the formation and prognosis of cerebral aneurysms. Forty-eight cases were selected following a diagnosis of cerebral aneurysm using computed tomography angiography and surgical confirmation. Thirty-four cases of healthy deaths were also chosen. The tissue was tested for NGF expression changes by reverse-transcription PCR, Western blot and histopathology, and NGF expression was compared between the cerebral aneurysm and healthy groups. The expression level of NGF in cerebral aneurysm tissue was significantly increased over that observed in control tissue. The abnormal expression of NGF is related to cerebral aneurysms. The elevated expression of NGF in cerebral aneurysms may be associated with a poor prognosis.

Role of Nrf2 signal pathway in rats with deep hypothermia ischemia/reperfusion injury undergoing remote postconditioning.

We investigated the protective effects of remote postconditioning (RPC) in the lungs of rats with deep hypothermia ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the role of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling in this process. Forty-nine rats were randomly divided into a sham control group, deep hypothermia I/R group, RPC group, I/R+all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) group, I/R+RPC+ATRA group, I/R+tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) group, and I/R+RPC+tBHQ group. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were used to examine Nrf2 mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Compared with the sham control group, Nrf2 expression, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and the wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio were significantly increased in the I/R group, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly decreased. Pulmonary Nrf2 expression and SOD activity was significantly increased, and MDA content and the W/D ratio were significantly decreased in the RPC group compared with the I/R group. Compared with the I/R group, MDA and W/D ratio significantly decreased and SOD activity remarkably increased in I/R+tBHQ group. After ATRA intervention in the I/R+ATRA group, MDA content and W/D ratio increased and SOD activity decreased compared to the I/R group. MDA content and W/D ratio in the RPC+tBHQ group significantly decreased and SOD activity increased compared with in the RPC group (P < 0.01). In the RPC+ATRA group, MDA content and W/D ratio decreased while SOD activity increased compared with the RPC group (P < 0.01). RPC alleviated deep hypothermia I/R injury; the Nrf2 signaling pathway may be involved in the protective effects induced by RPC.

Establishment of a rabbit model of coronary artery bypass graft and endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene transfection.

This study established an animal model of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The human endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene was transfected into grafted arterial walls to verify transfection efficiency. Forty rabbits were randomized into the following 4 equal groups: 1) eNOS gene transfection group (eNOS group); 2) empty eNOS gene transfection group (empty gene group); 3) control group; 4) normal femoral artery group. Grafted arteries, and normal carotid and femoral artery specimens were obtained 3 weeks later. Immunohistochemistry and analyses of tissue nitric oxide (NO) levels, eNOS activity, and eNOS protein western blotting were performed. The effectiveness and efficiency of transfection were observed and confirmed. All rabbits survived. The grafted arteries retained patency. Varying degrees of adaptability changes were observed in grafted arteries in each group. The eNOS group exhibited vascular wall thickening and significantly increased eNOS protein expression. The control and empty gene groups exhibited vessel wall degeneration, and eNOS protein was weakly or not expressed (P < 0.05). The arterial wall NO concentration and total eNOS activity in the eNOS group were significantly higher than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). Western blotting demonstrated that the vascular wall eNOS protein concentration was significantly greater than that in the other groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the eNOS gene transfection can increase eNOS expression and activity in vessel walls, increasing local NO concentration and expression.

Tuberculoma masked by glioma: a case report.

Tuberculous meningitis (TM), a common infectious disease of the central nervous system that is also seen in other types of tuberculosis infections, has higher mortality rates in young and middle-aged patients. TM is difficult to diagnose and treat owing to its non-specific clinical features and often atypical cerebrospinal fluid changes. Patients who present with focal neurologic signs, cough, low-grade fever and illness duration of more than 5 days, have intracalvarial abnormalities, and do not meet Thwaites' criterion findings should be diagnosed using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Mycobacterium infections can also be diagnosed by acid-fast staining of smears, cerebrospinal fluid culture, diagnostic polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and purified protein derivative test. To prevent TM misdiagnosis, clinicians must have sufficient knowledge of the clinical manifestations of tuberculosis. Appropriate application of tuberculosis chemotherapy drug principles, including early diagnosis and treatment, combination therapies, and consistent administration of treatment at appropriate dosages, can greatly reduce TM mortality rates and improve satisfactory treatment outcomes.

Association of polymorphisms of the xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group F gene with increased glioma risk.

We aimed to investigate the role of 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms of the xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group F (XPF) gene (rs3136038, rs1799798, rs1800067, and rs2276466) in glioma, and the roles of gene-gene interactions in the risk of developing this type of cancer. We collected samples from 225 glioma cases and 262 controls and genotyped the rs3136038, rs1799798, rs1800067, and rs2276466 polymorphisms using a 384-well plate format with the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. Individuals carrying the rs1800067 GG genotype were more likely to have an increased risk of glioma when compared with carriers of the A/A genotype in a co-dominant model, with an odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] of 2.85 (1.14-7.76). However, we did not find an association with increased risk of glioma for the polymorphisms rs3136038, rs1799798, and rs2276466 in XPF. The combination genotype of the rs1800067 G allele and the rs2276466 G allele was associated with a moderate risk of glioma (OR = 1.71, 95%CI = 1.02-2.87). Our study suggests that the rs1800067 genetic variant of XPF functions in the development of glioma.