RESUMO OBJETIVO Explorar a associação do polimorfismo do gene fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro (BDNF) com o endofenótipo cognitivo latente de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) após grandes desastres naturais na província de Hainan, China. MÉTODOS Um total de 300 doentes com TEPT e 150 controles saudáveis (HC) foi investigado pela escala de psicanálise para avaliar as suas funções cognitivas. A reação em cadeia polimerase (PCR) e a eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida (Page) foram usadas para detectar o polimorfismo do gene BDNF. RESULTADOS Em termos de função cognitiva, as pontuações no grupo TEPT foram piores do que as do grupo HC (P<0,05 ou P<0,01). Houve uma diferença significativa na distribuição do genótipo de BDNF e frequência do alelo entre os dois grupos (P<0,05). Os endofenótipos de TEPT foram significativamente diferentes entre os genótipos de BDNF do grupo TEPT (P≤0,01). CONCLUSÃO Existe uma diferença estatisticamente significativa no polimorfismo do gene BDNF entre o TEPT e os grupos HC, e os alelos estão associados à incidência do TEPT. Assim, pode ser um fator de risco para TEPT.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE To explore the association of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene (BDNF) polymorphism with the latent cognitive endophenotype of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after major natural disasters in Hainan Province, China. METHODS A total of 300 patients with PTSD and 150 healthy controls (HC) were surveyed by psychoanalysis scale to assess their cognitive functions. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) were used to detect the BDNF gene polymorphism. RESULTS In terms of the cognitive function, the scores in the PTSD group were worse than those of the HC group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). There was a significant difference in the distribution of BDNF genotype and allele frequency between the two groups (P < 0.05). PTSD endophenotypes were significantly different among the BDNF genotypes in the PTSD group (P ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSION There is a statistically significant difference in the polymorphism of BDNF gene between PTSD and HC groups, and the alleles are associated with the incidence of PTSD. Thus, it may be a risk factor for PTSD.

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of tanshinone IIA on human bladder cancer BIU-87 cells and the xenograft in nude mice. BIU-87 cells were treated with tanshinone IIA with concentration of 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 g/L. The cell proliferation, cycle and apoptosis were detected. The nude mice with BIU-87 cell xenograft were treated with normal saline (control), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg tanshinone IIA, respectively. The animal body weight and growth of tumor were measured. The expressions of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Caspase-3 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein in xenograft were detected. The apoptosis index of cells was determined. Results showed that, tanshinone IIA inhibited the proliferation of BIU-87 cells, promoted their apoptosis, and arrested more cells in G0/G1 phase. Tanshinone IIA significantly inhibited the growth of xenograft in nude mice and promoted the apoptosis of tumor cells in xenograft. Tanshinone IIA down-regulated Bcl-2 and PCNA expression and up-regulated Caspase-3 expression in xenograft. In conclusion, tanshinone IIA has inhibitory effects on human bladder cancer BIU-87 cells, and can inhibit the BIU-87 cells xenograft in nude mice.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the roles of miRNA in the development of ovarian follicles in sows with high ovulation rate. The miRNA expression profiles in middle-size ovarian follicles between Meishan and Duroc sows were characterized by Affymetrix miRNA GeneChip. Seven differentially expressed miRNA were identified. KEGG pathways analyzed the predicted target genes of differentially expressed miRNA by using the DAVID website. The MAPK signaling pathway may affect the process of ovarian follicle development. Our study suggested that miR-21, miR-199a, miR-708, and miR-4334 might play a vital role in the development of ovarian follicles of sow.

ABSTRACT Background: The rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among the total of S. aureus isolates decreased to 35.3% in 2017 in China. It is unclear whether the molecular characteristics of S. aureus isolates have changed as the rate decreased. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics and virulence genes profile of S. aureus isolates causing bloodstream infection and analyze the correlation between the prevalence rates of the common sequence types and MRSA. Methods: A total of 112 S. aureus strains from eight hospitals of four cities, including 32 MRSA isolates, were identified and evaluated through multilocus sequence typing, spa typing, and determination of virulence genes. Results: Twenty-five STs were identified, of which ST5 (21.4%) was the most prevalent, whereas the prevalence of ST239 correlated with the rate of MRSA among all S. aureus isolates. Forty-six spa types were identified, of which t2460 (14.3%) was the most common. clfa, hla, seb, fnbA and hlb were the prevailing virulence genes. 81.3% MRSA and 45.0% methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) isolates harbored six or more tested virulence genes. ST5-t2460, seldom noted in bloodborne S. aureus isolates in China, was the most common clone. The prevalence of harboring six or more virulence genes in ST5-t2460 and ST188-t189 were 93.8% and 8.3%, respectively. Conclusion: ST5-t2460 was the most common clone in S. aureus causing bloodstream infection followed by ST188-t189, which had never been noted in China before. Moreover, ST5-t2460 harbored more virulence genes than ST188-t189, and the prevalence of ST239 clone decreased with the proportion of MRSA among all S. aureus isolates.