Relationship between the G75A polymorphism in the apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) gene and the lipid regulatory effects of pravastatin in patients with hyperlipidemia.

In this study, we investigated the relationship between the G75A polymorphism in the apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) gene and the lipid regulatory effect of pravastatin in patients with hyperlipidemia. A total of 179 patients were divided into two groups: the pravastatin (N = 97) and policosanol (N = 82) treatment groups. The total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein, ApoA, and ApoB concentrations in the serum were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer before and after treatment for 12 weeks. The genotypes of the ApoA1 G75A SNP were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, and were subsequently statistically analyzed. Pravastatin treatment induced a significant decrease in the TC, LDL-c, and ApoB levels in patients expressing the ApoA1 AA+GA genotype (P < 0.05), and not in those expressing the GG genotype (P > 0.05). However, policosanol treatment induced a non-significant decrease in the serum TC levels (P > 0.05) and a significant decrease in the ApoB levels (P < 0.05), and did not induce a decrease in the LDL-c (P > 0.05) levels in patients with the AA+GA genotype. Policosanol also induced a significant decrease in the TC and LDL-c levels in patients with the GG genotype (P < 0.05). The various genotypes of the ApoA1 G75A SNP influence the efficacy of lipid regulation by pravastatin and policosanol in patients with hyperlipidemia.

Karyotype analysis and ribosomal gene localization of spotted knifejaw Oplegnathus punctatus.

The spotted knifejaw, Oplegnathus punctatus, is an important aquaculture fish species in China. To better understand the chromosomal microstructure and the karyotypic origin of this species, cytogenetic analysis was performed using Giemsa staining to identify metaphase chromosomes, C-banding to detect C-positive heterochromatin, silver staining to identify the nucleolus organizer regions (Ag-NORs), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for physical mapping of the major (18S rDNA) and minor (5S rDNA) ribosomal genes. The species showed a karyotype of 2n = 48 for females, composed of 2 submetacentric and 46 telocentric chromosomes, with a fundamental number (FN) = 50, while the karyotype of males was 2n = 47, composed of 1 exclusive large metacentric, 2 submetacentric, and 44 telocentric chromosomes, with FN = 50. These karyotype results suggest that O. punctatus might have an X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y multiple sex chromosome system. C-positive heterochromatin was distributed in the centromeres of all chromosomal pairs and in the terminal portions of some chromosomes. A single pair of Ag-positive NORs was found to be localized at the terminal regions of the short arms of the subtelocentric chromosome pair, which was supported by FISH of 18S rDNA. After FISH, 5S rDNA were located on the interstitial regions of the smallest telocentric chromosome pair. This study was the first to identify the karyotype of this species and will facilitate further research on karyotype evolution in the order Perciformes.

Eosinophil cationic protein mRNA expression in children with bronchial asthma.

Studies have shown that eosinophils are closely related to pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. Eosinophils release eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), which plays an important role in infection and allergic reactions. Serum ECP mRNA expression in children with bronchial asthma has not been adequately investigated. We analyzed serum ECP mRNA expression in 63 children with bronchial asthma and 21 healthy children by using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction to understand the role of ECP in children with bronchial asthma. The children with bronchial asthma were segregated into acute-phase and stable-phase groups, based on the severity of the illness. Serum ECP mRNA expression in children with bronchial asthma (0.375 ± 0.04) was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (0.20 ± 0.02; P < 0.05). Additionally, children in the acute-phase group showed higher ECP mRNA expression level (0.44 ± 0.06) than those in the stable-phase (0.31 ± 0.03) and healthy control groups (0.20 ± 0.02; P < 0.05), while the level in the stable-phase (0.31 ± 0.03) was markedly higher than that in the healthy control group (0.20 ± 0.02; P < 0.05). Detection of serum ECP mRNA expression level has possible applications in the diagnosis and treatment of children with bronchial asthma.

Analysis of the expression of HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and TGF-ß1 in primary nephritic syndrome patients and its significance.

We investigated the expression levels of high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB-1), CXC chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16), microRNA (miRNA)-30a and transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) in primary nephritic syndrome (PNS) patients and the clinical significance of this expression. A total of 56 patients with PNS were included in the PNS group, while 50 healthy subjects formed the normal control group. Serum levels of HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and urinary TGF-ß1 concentrations were quantified along with other biochemical indices, including serum albumin, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein, and urinary proteins. The correlation between levels of HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and TGF-ß1 and biochemical indexes was further analyzed. PNS group patients had significantly higher levels of HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA- 30a, and TGF-ß1 compared to the control group (P < 0.05). PNS patients also had higher 24-h urinary protein, TG, TC, and LDL levels but lower serum albumin compared to subjects in the control group (P < 0.05). Serum HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and urinary TGF-ß1 levels were all negatively correlated with serum albumin levels, but were positively correlated with TG, TC, LDL, and 24-h urinary protein (P < 0.05 in all cases). Additionally, a positive correlation existed among serum HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and urinary TGF-ß1 levels (P < 0.01). HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and urinary TGF-ß1 were highly expressed in PNS patients and may play important roles in the pathogenesis and development of PNS.

Differential expression of interleukin-12 p35 and p40 subunits in response to Aeromonas hydrophila and Aquareovirus infection in grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella.

The grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) aquaculture industry in Asia is prone to bacterial and viral hemorrhagic diseases. Effective adjuvants for vaccine formulation are the need of the hour for control of these diseases and long-term sustainability of grass carp farming. In this study, the involvement of interleukin-12 (IL-12) from grass carp (gcIL­12) in anti-bacterial and anti-viral immune responses was demonstrated via expression profiles of gcIL-12 subunits in immune tissues of the fish, following infection by Aeromonas hydrophila and Aquareovirus. Additionally, cDNA of the gcIL-12 subunits, p35 and p40 was cloned and characterized. We found that most of the structurally and functionally important features of vertebrate orthologues were conserved in gcIL-12 subunits, p35 and p40, with some features specific to grass carp. High levels of gcIL-12 p35 expression in the brain and gills suggest that IL-12 plays an important role in neural and immune systems. High expression levels in the heart, blood, and immune-related tissues suggest an important role in circulation and the immune system as well. Infections by both, A. hydrophila and Aquareovirus stimulated the mRNA expression of gcIL-12 subunits, p35 and p40 in most immune tissues. Significant upregulation or downregulation of gcIL-12 subunits, p35 and p40 by bacterial and viral infection confirms their potential role in anti-bacterial and anti-viral immune responses in fish.