Transcriptome screening and verification of genes related to metabolism affected by histone deacetylase inhibitors.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are responsible for catalyzing the deacetylation of histones, which closely related to many biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. In recent years, HDAC inhibitors (HADCIs), with the anti-tumor potential, have been hot-spots of drug screening. Although the latest studies suggested that HDAC2 might influence the metabolism, the mechanism of HDACIs in metabolic regulation is still unclear. Here, we integrated the gene expression profiling of HDACIs (TSA and SAHA) in hepatocellular carcinoma cell (HepG2). The results showed 380 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 35 KEGG pathways enriched by DEGs in TSA-treatment group. Most of DEGs (177/380) and KEGG pathways (23/35) from TSA-treatment groups were confirmed by SAHA-treatment. About half of KEGG pathways (9/23) were related to metabolism ,and nearly one third of common DEGs (66/177) were involved in metabolic process. Moreover, HDAC2 siRNA experiment verified the effect of HDACIs on metabolic genes, suggesting that HDACIs potentially present a practical value to prevent tumor and other metabolism-related diseases.

[Soft X-ray reflectometer with laser produced plasma source].

A soft X-ray reflectometor with laser-produced plasma source developed in the authorial lab is presented for the measurements of efficiencies of gratings, transmission of filter and reflectance of multilayer coatings. The reflectometer is composed of a soft X-ray laser-produced plasma source, a grazing incidence monochromator with a constant deviation angle, a vacuum chamber, a sample table, a photo-electronic unit and a computer controlling unit. The working wavelength is from 8 to 30 nm and the maximum sample size is 130 mm long by 120 mm wide by 120 mm high. In order to test the performances of the reflectometer, the reflectivity of multilayer coatings was obtained by using this device. The measured results agree well with the theoretical calculation. The reproducibility of measured reflectance is +/-0.6%.

[Frequency of transfusion transmitted virus in healthy infants in Jiujiang city Jiangxi province].

OBJECTIVE: Transfusion transmitted virus (TTV) DNA was detected in serum samples obtained from healthy infants and volunteer blood donors living in Jiujiang city in an attempt to shed light on the prevalence of TTV infection and the transmission route of TTV infection in infants. METHODS: Modified untranslated region, polymerase chain reaction (UTR PCR) and N22 PCR were performed to test TTV DNA in serum samples from 86 infants and 58 blood donors. RESULTS: TTV DNA was detected by UTR PCR in 51 (53.5%) infants and 58 (100%) in blood donors, while that tested by N22 PCR was 14 (16.3%) and 22 (37.3%) in infants and blood donors, respectively. Among infants younger than 30 days, 1 - 6 months and 7 - 12 months of age, TTV DNA was detected by UTR PCR and N22 PCR at rates of 0, 33.3%, 95.0% and 0, 7.4%, 30.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence rates of TTV DNA detected by UTR PCR were 95% in infants of 7 - 12 months after birth and 100% in healthy blood donors in Jiujiang city. However the results obtained by N22 PCR were much less frequently in the same population. Results showed that significant difference did exist in the prevalence of TTV DNA detected by the two different PCR systems. Age-dependent increase of TTV infection was observed in early childhood, while environmental sources were considered to be the most common route of TTV acquisition as the primary infection in infants. However, the prevalence of TTV in infants of 7 - 12 months was similar to that in healthy adults in the same region.