Arabidopsis AtPRP17 functions in embryo development by regulating embryonic patterning.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Arabidopsis AtPRP17, a homolog of yeast splicing factor gene PRP17, is expressed in siliques and embryos and functions in embryo development via regulating embryonic patterning. Yeast splicing factor PRP17/CDC40 is essential for cell growth through involvement in cell cycle regulation. Arabidopsis genome encodes a homolog of PRP17, AtPRP17; however, its function in Arabidopsis development is unknown. This study showed that AtPRP17 was highly expressed in siliques and embryos, and the protein was localized in the nucleus. The loss-of-function mutation of AtPRP17 led to shrunken seeds in Arabidopsis mature siliques. Further analysis revealed that the defective mature seeds of the mutant resulted from abnormal embryos with shriveled cotyledons, unequal cotyledons, swollen and shortened hypocotyls, or shortened radicles. During embryogenesis, mutant embryos showed delayed development and defective patterning of the apical and base domains, such as inhibited cotyledons and disorganized quiescent center cells and columella. Our results suggested that AtPRP17 functions in Arabidopsis embryo development via regulating embryonic patterning.

Genetical study of mutation in maternal-fetal ABO incompatibility.

This study looked into a family involving a rare mother-child ABO blood type inconsistency and explored its genetic and molecular basis. In the family, the mother had type AB blood and the father was blood type B and they gave birth to a baby of blood type O. Their blood types were phenotypically identified by using different techniques, including micro-column gel test, immune inhibition test, absorption and elution tests. The sequences of all 7 exons of ABO allele from the core family members were determined by using PCR and clone-based sequencing. The loci of mutated gene were compared against normal human genes. The result showed that the mother's erythrocytes were agglutinable with monoclonal anti-A antibody (2+) and had agglutination reaction with anti-B antibody (4+). The mother's serum registered agglutination action with standard blood type A cells. The findings showed an ABO inconsistency. When domestic antibodies were used, the mother's erythrocytes yielded agglutination reaction with humanized anti-B serum (4+) and anti-B monoclonal antibody but were non-agglutinable with humanized anti-A serum and anti-A monoclonal antibody. Upon absorption and elution, the titer of anit-A antibody was 128 both before and after the absorption test, with no significant difference found between pre- and post-absorption values. Our results confirmed that the mother's allelic gene was type B and contained type A. The father's blood type was type B, and son's blood type was type O. Clone-based sequencing revealed that the mother carried a heterozygous gene of B101.01 (ntA640→G)/O01, which contained an M214→V mutation that could express a weak expression of antigen A, resulting in blood type AB. However, their son did not have the M214→V mutation, which yielded a false ABO-inconsistency between him and his mother. We were led to conclude that type B gene with a M214→V mutation can encode both antigen B and weak antigen B that can lead to false ABO-inconsistencies.

[Identification of genotype III Japanese encephalitis virus isolated in Zhejiang province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular characteristics and genotype of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) found in vector mosquitoes in Zhejiang province from 1982 to 1983. METHODS: A total of 3188 mosquitoes were collected in Dinghai district and Yiwu city in Zhejiang province, during year 1982 and 1983. The virus was isolated by C6/36 cell, and then identified by hemagglutination inhibition test. The isolated strains were activated in year 2011, and plaque forming unit (PFU) were applied to test the virus titer. The suckling rats were tested under intracranial inoculation, where PrM and E genes were amplified and sequenced. Their nucleotide and amino acid sequences were analyzed and compared with the JEV vaccine strain SA14-14-2 and the JEV isolated in Zhejiang province during 2007 and 2010; and phylogenetic tree were constructed by bioinformatic software. RESULTS: From the 3188 mosquitoes captured, eleven virus strains were isolated and found to be able to cause cytopathogenic effect (CPE) in C6/36 cells within 72 hours. Virus titer ranged from 2.5 to 6.47 lg PFU/ml. The suckling rats would die within 72 hours since the inoculation. The phylogenetic analysis with the PrM and E genes showed that the JEV isolated in Zhejiang during 1982 and 1983 belonged to genotype III; while the JEV isolated in Zhejiang during 2007 and 2010 belonged to genotype I. The analysis of E genes from 5 isolated strains found that the homology of nucleotide sequence was over 98.9%, and the homology of amino acid sequence was over 99.8%. The compare between the 5 virus strains and the vaccine strain SA14-14-2 found 10 common amino acid variation sites, and showed that the homology of nucleotide sequence was over 97.7%, and the homology of amino acid sequence was 99.2%. The compare between the 5 virus strains and the JEV isolated in Zhejiang during 2007 and 2010 found a 87.7% - 87.9% nucleotide homology and an over 98.8% amino acid homology. CONCLUSION: The JEV isolated from the mosquitoes in Dinghai district and Yiwu city between year 1982 and 1983, were genotype III.

[Study on serological blood group conversion rule and clinical blood transfusion in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the conversion rule of serological blood group and blood group substance after successful allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and to provide theory for clinical special blood type identification and blood transfusion. METHODS: The growth cycle of recipient WBC and RBC, RBC chimera, blood group antibody production and remaining in full transition were observed. Conversion rule of blood group substance, contradiction between cells typing and sera typing were detected by saline medium tube method and microcolumn gel method after stem cells transplantation. RESULTS: The average time of engraftment in 21 recipients was about 18.6 days, RBC growth cycle in 8 major blood type incompatibility was 56.6 days, 25.9 days in 9 minor blood type incompatibility, 67 days in 4 bidirectional blood type incompatibility (P < 0.01). The ratio of RBC chimeric growth was 1:9, gradually converse to donor's blood group. Residue of recipient anti-A(B) was left after conditioning regimen, disappeared after full transformation, and recipient anti-A(B) was converse to donor's blood type in major blood type incompatibility. 5 A blood type recipient donated by O blood type blood generated anti-B instead of anti-A, 3 B blood type recipient generated only anti-A instead of B in minor blood type incompatibility, and 1 AB blood type recipient donated by A did not generate anti-B. Among 4 bidirectional blood type incompatibility, 2 B blood type recipient donated by A blood type blood did not generate anti-B, 2 A recipient by B could not produce anti-A. Recipient blood group substance helped original ABO blood type substance remain unchanged. CONCLUSION: Among patient with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, recipient's ABO and RBC blood type can be converse to donor's, but there is significant difference between patients of serological blood group and of normal people (P < 0.01). Recipient blood group substance helps original ABO blood type substance remain unchanged (P > 0.01).

[Observations on clinic curative effect of oxymatrine to cure hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the curative effect of oxymatrine to cure hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. METHODS: Randomly divide 418 patients suffering from hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome into a treatment group and a control group, use oxymatrine to give an intravenous drip to the patients in the treatment group, one time a day, each time 600 mg, lasting for 7 days as one period of treatment and meanwhile take a traditional equilibrium salt treatment for the patients in the control group. Observe the change of the illness in both groups and occurrence of complications, dynamically test the magnitude of serum urination-regulated protein (THP) and beta(2) microglobulin (beta(2)M) of the patients, in the meantime observe the change in magnitude of serum white blood cell medium 15 (IL-15) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecules (sICAM-1). RESULTS: Shorten the course of the disease of the patients in the oxymatrine treatment group, make an improvement after the recovery and obviously reduce the magnitude of serum urination-regulated protein (THP) and beta(2) microglobulin and show a striking difference in magnitude of serum IL-15 and sICAM-1 after the treatment compared with that of the patients in the control group. CONCLUSION: Oxymatrine has a certainly true curative effect to hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and worth of furthering its widespread use in clinics.

[Preparation of Ge/SiO2 nanometer-crystal doped glass and study of its photoluminescence property].

Ge/SiO2 nanometer-crystal doped glass was prepared through sol-gel method. The gel was synthesized through the hydrolysis of a complex solution of Si (OC2H5)4 and Ge(OC2H5)4. The product gel was then heated at 700 degrees C in H2. Ge crystals appeared after the heating-reducing process. X ray diffraction analysis showed that there were Ge cubic crystals formed in the gel glass. The photoluminescence spectroscopic analysis showed that the Ge/SiO2 fluorescence peaked at 576 nm with excitation wavelength of 494 nm. By using the Brus quantum confinement model, the fluorescence peak energy suggested that the mean size of Ge crystal was about 3 nm.