Evaluating Superhydrophobic Surfaces under External Pressures using Quartz Crystal Microbalance.

The performance of hydrophobic surfaces under hydraulic pressures is critical to a wide range of practical applications such as drag reduction of seaboard vessels and design of microfluidic devices. This research focuses on the evaluation of drag reduction and velocity slip of hydrophobic surfaces and coatings under external hydrostatic pressures using an acoustic wave device (i.e.

Recombinant keratinocyte growth factor 1 in tobacco potentially promotes wound healing in diabetic rats.

Keratinocyte growth factor 1 (KGF1) is a growth factor that promotes epidermal cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and wound repair. It is expressed at low levels in a form of inclusion body in E. coli.

[Status of malnutrition and its influencing factors in children under 5 years old in Guangnan District of Yunnan Province in 2009 - 2010].

Objective: To analyze the status of malnutrition and its influencing factors in children under 5 years old in Guangnan District of Yunnan Province in 2009 - 2010.

Methods: By the random cluster sampling and stratified sampling methods, 1002 children within 5 years old in rural areas were selected from poverty-stricken counties in Yunnan Province. The questionnaire survey including questionnaire, anthropometric measurement and dietary survey such as height and weight were used respectively for the survey.

[Construction and transduction of hNUDC shRNA interference lentiviral vector].

Aim: To construct a lentiviral vector carrying human nuclear distribution protein C (hNUDC)-specific shRNA (sh-NUDC-F) and knock down hNUDC expression in Dami cells by infection of the lentivirus.

Methods: After labeling of green fluorescent protein (GFP), sh-NUDC-F was cloned into lentiviral vector pRRL-cPPT-CMV-X-PRE-SIN, and the high-quality plasmid was transfected into 293T cells to produce lentiviral particles by the calcium phosphate method. After high-speed centrifugation, lentiviral particles were collected and determined for its titer.

[The construction of NUDC shRNA interference vector with red fluorescence protein].

Aim: Used RFP gene to construct a RNA interference vector for convenience to obtain the good effective hairpins sequence.

Methods: NUDC and RFP genes were cloned into pDs vector separately, resulting in pDs-NUDC- RFP. as above, human U6 promoter and 9 hairpins sequence of NUDC were cloned into the pDs- NUDC-RFP vector separately.

Increased detection of metastatic melanoma in pediatric sentinel lymph node biopsies using RT-PCR on paraffin-embedded tissue.

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has become integral in the staging of patients with melanoma, and entails detailed histologic examination with immunohistochemistry. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for tyrosinase transcripts has been used to increase sensitivity but requires a dedicated piece of tissue that does not undergo histologic examination. We developed a nested RT-PCR assay for tyrosinase applicable on paraffin-embedded tissue and applied this to a series of SLNs from pediatric patients with melanoma.

The intermediate filament nestin is highly expressed in normal human podocytes and podocytes in glomerular disease.

The intermediate protein nestin is expressed in proliferating embryonic tissues and adult tissues undergoing repair. Recently this protein been identified in rodent podocytes. Its role in this cell is unknown, since podocytes are believed to be terminally differentiated and nondividing.

[Analysis on genetic defects of patients with azoospermia and severe oligospermia--report of 2 novel abnormal karyotypes].

G banding karyotype analysis of peripheral lymphocytes in 217 patients with azoospermia or severe oligospermia were performed and the Y-chromosome AZFc region from 7 cases with Y chromosome abnormality was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Out of 187 cases with azoospermia, 77 patients or 41.18% had chromosome abnormalities, including number and structural aberrations, heteromorphic chromosomes (Y chromosome heteromorphisms and pericentric inversion of chromosome 9) and 46, XX sex reversal.

Sequential expression of type IV collagen networks: testis as a model and relevance to spermatogenesis.

The six alpha chains of type IV collagen are organized into three networks: alpha1/alpha2, alpha3/alpha4/alpha5, and alpha1/alpha2/alpha5/alpha6. A shift from the alpha1/alpha2 to the alpha3/alpha4/alpha5 network occurs in the developing glomerular basement membrane, but how the alpha1/alpha2/alpha5/alpha6 network fits into this sequence is less clear, because the three networks do not colocalize. Here, we studied the seminiferous tubule basement membrane of normal canine testis where all three networks do colocalize: the alpha1/alpha2 network is expressed from birth, the alpha1/alpha2/alpha5/alpha6 network by 5-6 weeks of age, and the alpha3/alpha4/alpha5 network by 2 months of age.

Type IV collagen induces podocytic features in bone marrow stromal stem cells in vitro.

Bone marrow-derived stromal stem cells (BMSC) can differentiate along a variety of mesenchymal lines, including mesangial cells. For determining whether BMSC can be induced to differentiate along podocytic lines in vitro, canine BMSC were cultured on plastic, type I collagen, and NC1 hexamers of type IV collagen from normal and Alport canine glomerular basement membrane. Results were compared with a mouse podocyte cell line.

Regulation of collagen type IV genes is organ-specific: evidence from a canine model of Alport syndrome.

Background: Despite advances in knowledge about collagen type IV at the protein level, little is known about expression of its six alpha chains. X-linked Alport syndrome provides a system to study collagen type IV gene expression within a setting of disturbed protein synthesis. Mutations in the alpha5 chain result in loss of the alpha3/alpha4/alpha5 and alpha1/alpha2/alpha5/alpha6 networks from the kidney, with progressive renal disease.

Carriers of three polymorphisms of cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene are at increased risk to coronary heart disease in a Chinese population.

Background: The cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a key participant in the reverse transport of cholesterol from the peripheral tissue to the liver and the polymorphism in the CETP gene may therefore alter the susceptibility to coronary heart disease (CHD). The aim of the present study was to screen the CETP gene for new single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and to determine whether SNPs at important cholesterol metabolism gene loci might exert effects on the risk to CHD in Chinese.

Methods: Genomic DNA samples were collected from 203 Chinese patients with CHD and 209 age- and gender-matched controls.

Association between DNA variant sites in the apolipoprotein A5 gene and coronary heart disease in Chinese.

The recently discovered apolipoprotein A5 ( APOA5 ) gene has been shown to be important in determining plasma triglyceride levels, a major cardiovascular disease risk factor. We searched for possible associations of the APOA5 gene polymorphisms S19W and -1131T>C with coronary heart disease (CHD) in a Chinese population. A total of 483 Chinese CHD patients and 502 control non-CHD subjects were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism for these 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms.

[Association of 7alpha-hydroxylase gene polymorphism with levels of plasma lipids].

To study the distribution of Eco31I restriction polymorphism in nucleotide -204 of 7alpha-hydroxylase gene(CYP7A1)in Sichuan Han population of China and association of the polymorphism with coronary heart disease(CHD),CYP7A1 genotyping was performed by using PCR-RFLP approach in 183 CHD patients and 101 control subjects. 7alpha-hydroxylase gene allele frequencies of C,A were 0.840 and 0.

Association between cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene polymorphisms and variations in lipid levels in patients with coronary heart disease.

Background: The Taq/B, Msp/ and I405V polymorphisms of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), an important regulatory factor of lipid metabolism, have been attracted much more attention by the researchers. In this study, we investigated the associations between these 3 polymorphisms of CETP gene and variations in plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes of 203 CHD patients and 100 control subjects using the salting out method.

[Association of APOA5 gene single nucleotide polymorphism with levels of lipids and coronary heart disease in Chinese].

Objective: To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphism 4 (SNP4) of the apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) gene possible association with coronary heart disease(CHD) and its distribution of in Chinese Han population.

Methods: APOA5 SNP4 genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction and Hae III restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Results: APOA5 allelic frequencies of T, C were 0.

Novel P143L polymorphism of the LCAT gene is associated with dyslipidemia in Chinese patients who have coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.

Coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAD) is a multifactorial disorder resulting from numerous gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), a key enzyme in reverse cholesterol transport and the metabolism of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), is thought to be a candidate gene related to dyslipidemia and CAD. Variations in the LCAT gene were investigated in 190 CAD patients and 209 age- and gender-matched controls by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography, and confirmed by sequencing and RFLP assay.

A novel missense mutation (L296 Q) in cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene related to coronary heart disease.

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a key participant in the reverse transport of cholesterol from the peripheral tissues to the liver. To understand further the role that CETP gene plays in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease (CHD), the promoter region, all 16 exons and adjacent intronic regions of CETP gene were screened for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 203 CHD patients and 209 healthy volunteers by the combination of PCR, denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC), molecular cloning, and DNA sequencing. A novel missense mutation in the CETP gene was identified.

The 1239G/C polymorphism in exon 5 of BACE1 gene may be associated with sporadic Alzheimer's disease in Chinese Hans.

Beta-site amyloid-precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE1) is a candidate risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) because of involving in generating beta-amyloid peptide, which is thought to play a central role in the pathogenesis of the disease. A single nucleotide polymorphism 1239G/C in exon 5 of BACE1 gene and a weak association between this polymorphism and AD in Caucasian APOEepsilon4 allele carriers has been reported. To examine possible association of the polymorphism with sporadic AD, two Chinese Han cohorts including 257 patients and 242 age-matched controls in Guangzhou and 112 patients and 113 controls in Chengdu were genotyped using PCR-RFLP techniques.

[Study on the association of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase gene polymorphisms with the lipid metabolism in coronary atherosclerotic heart disease].

Objective: To examine the distribution of 3 polymorphisms of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase gene in Chinese population and the association of these polymorphisms with lipid metabolism in patients with atherosclerotic heart disease (CHD).

Methods: Genotypes and frequencies of 3 sites were examined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique in 209 unrelated normal control individuals and 203 CHD patients.

Results: The observed allele frequencies conform well to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

Transfer of the alpha 5(IV) collagen chain gene to smooth muscle restores in vivo expression of the alpha 6(IV) collagen chain in a canine model of Alport syndrome.

X-linked Alport syndrome is a progressive renal disease caused by mutations in the COL4A5 gene, which encodes the alpha 5(IV) collagen chain. As an initial step toward gene therapy for Alport syndrome, we report on the expression of recombinant alpha 5(IV) collagen in vitro and in vivo. A full-length cDNA-encoding canine alpha 5(IV) collagen was cloned and expressed in vitro by transfection of HEK293 cells that synthesize the alpha1(IV) and alpha2(IV), but not the alpha 3(IV) to alpha 6(IV) collagen chains.

Cyclosporine a slows the progressive renal disease of alport syndrome (X-linked hereditary nephritis): results from a canine model.

Alport syndrome refers to a hereditary disorder characterized by progressive renal disease and a multilaminar appearance to the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). In a small group of patients with Alport syndrome, cyclosporine A was reported to decrease proteinuria and maintain stable renal function over 7 to 10 yr of follow-up. The present study examined the effect of cyclosporine A on GBM structure and the progression to renal failure in a canine model of X-linked Alport syndrome.

[Study on the association of cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene mutations with the susceptibility to coronary atherosclerotic heart disease].

Objective: To determine the frequencies of 4 mutations of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene in Chinese population and to investigate the association of the mutations with lipid metabolism and the susceptibility to coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CHD).

Methods: The target fragments of CETP gene were amplified and analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique in 209 unrelated control individuals and 203 CHD patients. The test for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was performed using HWE program and statistical analysis was implemented in statistical package SPSS.

[Cloning, sequencing, expression, and primary identification of recombinant mouse protein kinase CK2 alpha subunit].

Background & Objective: Protein kinase CK2 is a highly conserved and ubiquitous eukaryotic serine/threonine kinase that is elevated and can serve as an oncogene in many tumor cells. To further research the structure and function of CK2, this study was designed to construct, express, and preliminarily identify a recombinant expression plasmid which contains the cDNA encoding mouse protein kinase CK2 alpha subunit.

Methods: The aimed cDNA was obtained from NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts by RT-PCR.

[The relationship between haplotypes of angiotensinogen gene and essential hypertension].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the polymorphism of angiotensinogen gene (AGT) and the risk for hypertension in a Chinese population.

Methods: Three polymorphisms of AGT gene were analyzed in 335 patients with documented essential hypertension and 196 control subjects by using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Expectation maximization(EM) algorithm was then used for pairwise linkage disequilibrium test and haplotype analysis of AGT polymorphisms.