Identification of altered pathways in Down syndrome-associated congenital heart defects using an individualized pathway aberrance score.

The aim of this study was to identify disrupted pathways related to Down syndrome (DS), and DS-associated congenital heart defects (DS-CHD). The gene expression profile and pathway data of 10 human DS patients and 5 control samples in E-GEOD-1789 were recruited and analyzed by the individualized pathway aberrance score (iPAS) method, consisting of the data processing, gene-level statistics, pathway-level statistics, and significant measurement steps. The pre-processing step identified 12,493 genes and 1022 pathways (4269 genes). The pathway significant analysis identified eight pathways (adjusted P value <0.1) that differed between the disease and control samples. The cross-presentation of particulate exogenous antigen (phagosomes) and methionine salvage pathways showed the most significant differences among these. The gene expression levels of key pathway genes, such as CYBB and ADI1, were higher in disease samples than in normal controls. Based on our results, we predicted that the cross-presentation of particulate exogenous antigens (phagosomes) and the methionine salvage pathway could be good indicators of DS-CHD.

Relationship between 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and post-stroke depression.

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a mental illness characterized by subjective feelings of depression, cognitive dysfunction, and decreased interest. The serotoninergic system is involved in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders and is regulated by the serotonin transporter gene. The serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) has been examined as a factor associated with depression and other mental disorders. This study was performed to explore the relationship between 5-HTTLPR and PSD in a Han Chinese population. In total, 199 patients with PSD and 202 unrelated non-PSD patients were recruited from psychiatric hospitals. Depression was diagnosed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition. Blood samples were collected from all patients for 5-HTTLPR genotyping. Genotype and allele frequencies were compared between the two groups. SS genotype frequency was significantly higher in the PSD group than in the non-PSD group. LL genotype frequency was significantly higher in the non-PSD group than in the PSD group (P < 0.01). This study describes a positive association between 5-HTTLPR and PSD in a Han Chinese population and provides genetic evidence to support the genetic susceptibility of PSD.

Genetic diversity and the conservation priority of Glycine soja populations from Northern China.

Knowledge of the spatial patterns of genetic variation in wild populations has significant implications for in situ conservation and the determination of conservation order. To study the levels of genetic diversity, spatial genetic structures, and genetic distances in Glycine soja, 11 natural populations in northern China were analyzed by estimating genetic coefficients using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) fingerprints via mixed sampling strategies. Sixteen ISSR primers generated 98 reproducible polymorphic amplification banding patterns of 172 scored, accounting for 56.98% of the polymorphisms among the populations. The dendrogram based on Nei's genetic distance showed that distinct genetic differentiation occurred in G. soja. The Unweighted Pair-Group Method with Arithmetic Mean cluster analysis indicated two broad groups, and one contained all of the populations except three from Chengde, which formed the smaller second group. The spatial genetic structure evident in the wild soybean populations may be attributed to restricted seed dispersal and the dominant breeding system of this species. The detection of genetic structures in wild soybean populations could be a significant index for the effective conservation of many wild populations, and it could be exploited by soybean breeding programs to increase production.

Characteristic element of matrix attachment region mediates vector attachment and enhances nerve growth factor expression in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Preliminary studies have suggested that a characteristic element of the matrix attachment region (MAR) in human interferon-ß mediates the adhesion of vectors to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. In this study, we investigated if vector adhesion increased nerve growth factor (NGF) expression in CHO cells. The MAR characteristic element sequence of human interferon-ß was inserted into the multiple-cloning site of the pEGFP-C1 vector. The target NGF gene was inserted upstream of the MAR characteristic element sequence to construct the MAR/NGF expression vector. The recombinant plasmid was transfected into CHO cells and stable monoclonal cells were selected using G418. NGF mRNA and protein expression was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Plasmid reduction experiments were used to determine the state of transfected plasmid in mammalian cells. The insertion of MAR into the vector increased NGF expression levels in CHO cells (1.93- fold) compared to the control. The recombinant plasmid expressing the MAR sequence was digested into a linear space vector. The inserted MAR and NGF sequences were consistent with those inserted into the plasmid before recombination. Therefore, we concluded that the MAR characteristic element mediates vector adhesion to CHO cells and enhances the stability and efficiency of the target gene expression.

Detection of acute cerebral hemorrhage in rabbits by magnetic induction.

Acute cerebral hemorrhage (ACH) is an important clinical problem that is often monitored and studied with expensive devices such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography. These devices are not readily available in economically underdeveloped regions of the world, emergency departments, and emergency zones. We have developed a less expensive tool for non-contact monitoring of ACH. The system measures the magnetic induction phase shift (MIPS) between the electromagnetic signals on two coils. ACH was induced in 6 experimental rabbits and edema was induced in 4 control rabbits by stereotactic methods, and their intracranial pressure and heart rate were monitored for 1 h. Signals were continuously monitored for up to 1 h at an exciting frequency of 10.7 MHz. Autologous blood was administered to the experimental group, and saline to the control group (1 to 3 mL) by injection of 1-mL every 5 min. The results showed a significant increase in MIPS as a function of the injection volume, but the heart rate was stable. In the experimental (ACH) group, there was a statistically significant positive correlation of the intracranial pressure and MIPS. The change of MIPS was greater in the ACH group than in the control group. This high-sensitivity system could detect a 1-mL change in blood volume. The MIPS was significantly related to the intracranial pressure. This observation suggests that the method could be valuable for detecting early warning signs in emergency medicine and critical care units.

Detection of acute cerebral hemorrhage in rabbits by magnetic induction

Acute cerebral hemorrhage (ACH) is an important clinical problem that is often monitored and studied with expensive devices such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography. These devices are not readily available in economically underdeveloped regions of the world, emergency departments, and emergency zones. We have developed a less expensive tool for non-contact monitoring of ACH. The system measures the magnetic induction phase shift (MIPS) between the electromagnetic signals on two coils. ACH was induced in 6 experimental rabbits and edema was induced in 4 control rabbits by stereotactic methods, and their intracranial pressure and heart rate were monitored for 1 h. Signals were continuously monitored for up to 1 h at an exciting frequency of 10.7 MHz. Autologous blood was administered to the experimental group, and saline to the control group (1 to 3 mL) by injection of 1-mL every 5 min. The results showed a significant increase in MIPS as a function of the injection volume, but the heart rate was stable. In the experimental (ACH) group, there was a statistically significant positive correlation of the intracranial pressure and MIPS. The change of MIPS was greater in the ACH group than in the control group. This high-sensitivity system could detect a 1-mL change in blood volume. The MIPS was significantly related to the intracranial pressure. This observation suggests that the method could be valuable for detecting early warning signs in emergency medicine and critical care units.