A phylogenetic analysis of the ubiquitin superfamily based on sequence and structural information.

Ubiquitin belongs to an important class of protein modifier and gene expression regulator proteins that participates in various cellular processes. A large number of ubiquitin-related proteins have been identified during the last two decades. However, the evolutionary history of this ancient gene family remains largely unknown.

GSTT1 and GSTM1 polymorphisms predict treatment outcome for acute myeloid leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) contribute to the metabolism of different xenobiotics and anticancer drugs and confer protection against oxidative stress thus may influence the treatment outcome of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Studies regarding the association between GSTT1 and GSTM1 polymorphisms and treatment outcome in AML patients showed an inconsistent result. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to further explore this association.

Rationale, design and baseline results of the Guangxi manganese-exposed workers healthy cohort (GXMEWHC) study.

Objective: To determine the relationship between biomarkers of exposure, disease and susceptibility, and early health effects and long-term diseases related to occupational manganese (Mn) exposure.

Design: Baseline survey of a longitudinal cohort study of workers in a ferromanganese refinery.

Participants: A total of 1888 individuals (1197 men, 691 women; average seniority 15.

Genetic variations affecting serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels and status of regional lymph nodes in patients with sporadic colorectal cancer from Southern China.

Background: Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (sCEA) level might be an indicator of disease. Indeed, an elevated sCEA level is a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. However, the genetic determinants of sCEA level in healthy and CRC population remains unclear.

Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies in East Asian-ancestry populations identifies four new loci for body mass index.

Recent genetic association studies have identified 55 genetic loci associated with obesity or body mass index (BMI). The vast majority, 51 loci, however, were identified in European-ancestry populations. We conducted a meta-analysis of associations between BMI and ∼2.

Identification of prognostic biomarkers in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma and stratification by integrative multi-omics analysis.

Background & Aims: The differentiation of distinct multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): multicentric disease vs. intrahepatic metastases, in which the management and prognosis varies substantively, remains problematic. We aim to stratify multifocal HCC and identify novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers by performing whole genome and transcriptome sequencing, as part of a multi-omics strategy.

Determination of reference intervals for serum complement C3 and C4 levels in Chinese Han ethnic males.

Background: Clinical laboratory reference intervals (RIs) for serum complement C3 and C4 levels have been established in many countries but there is a lack of published data regarding normal RIs in Chinese population. We attempted to establish RIs for serum complement C3 and C4 levels in Chinese Han ethnic males.

Methods: A total of 1,234 healthy male subjects, aged 20 - 69 years, were collected from the Fangchenggang Area Male Health and Examination Survey (FAMHES).

Factors affecting the distribution pattern of wild plants with extremely small populations in Hainan Island, China.

Understanding which factors affect the distribution pattern of extremely small populations is essential to the protection and propagation of rare and endangered plant species. In this study, we established 108 plots covering the entire Hainan Island, and measured the appearance frequency and species richness of plant species with extremely small populations, as well as the ecological environments and human disturbances during 2012-2013. We explored how the ecological environments and human activities affected the distribution pattern of these extremely small populations.

Traditional Chinese medicine versus western medicine as used in China in the management of rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized, single-blind, 24-week study.

This study is designed to compare the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with western medicine (WM) in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This is a 24-week, randomized, multicenter, single-blind study comparing TCM with WM (as used in China) carried out between June 2002 and December 2004 in nine research centers in China, involving 489 patients. Patients were randomized to receive TCM (n = 247), MTX and SSZ (n = 242).

Long noncoding RNA plays a key role in metastasis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been attracting immense research interests. However, only a handful of lncRNAs had been thoroughly characterized. They were involved in fundamental cellular processes including regulation of gene expression at epigenetics as well as tumorogenesis.

Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody-based therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of the effect of PIK3CA mutations in KRAS wild-type patients.

Introduction: We conducted a meta-analysis to dissect the association between PIK3CA mutations (exon 9 and exon 20) and resistance to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) in KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients.

Material And Methods: In 11 previously published studies, 864 cancer patients were treated with cetuximab or panitumumab-based therapy. Primary outcomes included objective response (complete response + partial response vs.

Hydrodynamic tail vein injection of SOCS3 eukaryotic expression vector in vivo promoted liver lipid metabolism and hepatocyte apoptosis in mouse.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), a signal transduction cytokine, is involved in lipid metabolism as well as in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and so on. To explore the effects of SOCS3 on apoptosis and lipid metabolism in liver, we used a simple effective method named hydrodynamic tail vein injection to overexpress SOCS3. Then orbital blood was obtained for the assessment of blood lipid after injection.

Reference values for serum antistreptolysin O in Chinese adult men from a Chinese male population survey.

Background: Numerous diseases come from streptococcal infection. The antistreptolysin O (ASO) test is the most widely used serological test for streptococcal infection applied for the clinical diagnosis. The aim of this study was to establish reference values for serum ASO in Han and Zhuang Chinese from a Chinese male population survey.

Dioscin enhances methotrexate absorption by down-regulating MDR1 in vitro and in vivo.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the enhancing effect of dioscin on the absorption of methotrexate (MTX) and clarify the molecular mechanism involved in vivo and in vitro. Dioscin increased MTX chemosensitivity and transepithelial flux in the absorptive direction, significantly inhibiting multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) mRNA and protein expression and MDR1 promoter and nuclear factor κ-B (NF-κB) activities in Caco-2 cells. Moreover, inhibitor κB-α (IκB-α) degradation was inhibited by dioscin.

A genome-wide association study identifies common variants influencing serum uric acid concentrations in a Chinese population.

Background: Uric acid (UA) is a complex phenotype influenced by both genetic and environmental factors as well as their interactions. Current genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified a variety of genetic determinants of UA in Europeans; however, such studies in Asians, especially in Chinese populations remain limited.

Methods: A two-stage GWAS was performed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were associated with serum uric acid (UA) in a Chinese population of 12,281 participants (GWAS discovery stage included 1452 participants from the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort (DFTJ-cohort) and 1999 participants from the Fangchenggang Area Male Health and Examination Survey (FAMHES).

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis interest among female sex workers in Guangxi, China.

Objectives: Acceptability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and willingness to participate in a clinical trial for both safety and efficacy of PrEP were investigated among female sex workers (FSWs) in Guangxi, China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in three cities in Guangxi. Structured, self-administered questionnaires were used to assess the acceptability of PrEP and the willingness to participate in a clinical trial.

Cigarette smoking has a positive and independent effect on testosterone levels.

Previous studies have suggested that testosterone levels are linked to a variety of diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, erectile dysfunction, depression, stroke and osteoporosis. Since cigarette smoking is a major health problem and highly prevalent among men, several groups have studied the effects of cigarette smoking on testosterone levels in men. However, the results have been conflicting.

Cognitive function and plasma BDNF levels among manganese-exposed smelters.

Objectives: To explore the potential dose-response relationship between manganese (Mn) exposure and cognitive function and also plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in occupational Mn exposure workers.

Methods: A total 819 workers were identified from our Mn-exposed workers, and 293 control workers were recruited in the same region. All exposed workers were divided into three groups based on Mn cumulative exposure index.

A genome wide association study identifies common variants associated with lipid levels in the Chinese population.

Plasma lipid levels are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease and are influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Recent genome wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several lipid-associated loci, but these loci have been identified primarily in European populations. In order to identify genetic markers for lipid levels in a Chinese population and analyze the heterogeneity between Europeans and Asians, especially Chinese, we performed a meta-analysis of two genome wide association studies on four common lipid traits including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) in a Han Chinese population totaling 3,451 healthy subjects.

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct.

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a variant of bile duct carcinoma that is characterized by intraductal growth and better outcomes compared with common cholangiocarcinoma. IPNBs are mainly found in patients from Far Eastern areas, where hepatolithiasis and clonorchiasis are endemic. According to the immunohistochemical profiles of the mucin core proteins, IPNBs are classified into four types: pancreaticobiliary, intestinal, gastric, and oncocytic.

[Association of ERCC6 gene polymorphisms and DNA damage in lymphocytes among coke oven workers].

Objective: To investigate the association between ERCC6 gene polymorphisms and peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA damage among the workers in coking plant.

Methods: By cluster sampling, 379 coke oven workers having worked for 8 hours were included in the exposure group, 398 coke oven workers having rested for more than 16 hours were included in the recovery group, and 398 workers having never been exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the same plant were included in the control group. Lymphocytes were separated from their peripheral venous blood, and single cell gel electrophoresis was used to evaluate DNA damage; TaqMan-MGB probes were used to analyze ERCC6 gene polymorphisms.

SOCS2 inhibited mitochondria biogenesis via inhibiting p38 MAPK/ATF2 pathway in C2C12 cells.

In order to investigate the mechanism of suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) on mitochondrial biogenesis, RNA interference and over-expression plasmid vectors of SOCS2 were used to transfect murine skeletal muscle C2C12 cells. Results demonstrated that over-expression of SOCS2 inhibited the differentiation of C2C12 cells, and reduced the expression of MyHC, MyoD and MyoG while elevated the protein expression of MSTN. Meanwhile the expression of PGC-1α, MDH, CPT-1 were significantly elevated in the RNA interference of SOCS2 group which were decreased in SOCS2 overexpression group.

[High-pitch dual-source CT in prospectively electrocardiogram-triggered spiral double scanning mode for diagnosing coronary artery patency].

Objective: To assess the image quality, diagnostic accuracy and effective radiation dose of prospectively ECG- triggered high-pitch spiral double scanning (Double Flash) mode of computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) using dual-source CT for the diagnosis of significant coronary stenoses.

Methods: Patients underwent both CTCA in Double Flash mode and conventional coronary angiography (CAG) and were divided into two groups according to heart rate (HR), namely group A with HR <65/min (62 cases) and group B with HR between 65 and 80/min (52 cases). All the coronary segments were evaluated by two blinded and independent observers for image quality on a four-point scale and for the presence of significant coronary stenoses (defined as a diameter narrowing exceeding 50%).