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The aim of the current study was to evaluate the levels of growth factors in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with autism, after transplantation of human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMNCs) and umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs). Twenty patients received two CBMNC intravenous and intrathecal infusions, each followed by two UCMSC intrathecal injections. A 2-mL sample of CSF was taken before each intrathecal injection. CSF levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All data are reported as means ± SD and were analyzed using the SPSS 10.0 software. One-way analysis of variance with post-hoc F- and Q-tests was performed for comparison. HGF, BDNF and NGF levels in the CSF were significantly increased after transplantation (P < 0.05), while bFGF levels did not change significantly. Therefore, transplantation of CBMNCs and UCMSCs could increase HGF, BDNF and NGF levels in the CSF of patients with autism.

RESUMO

The aim of this study was to identify changes in the base sequence of the upstream regulatory region of the transthyretin (TTR) gene. Whole-blood DNA was extracted from ten subjects belonging to a family with familial amyloidosis vitreoretinopathy; the upstream regulatory sequence was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, detected by gel electrophoresis, and sequenced. The DNA sequence of the upstream regulatory region of the TTR gene was successfully sequenced, and a point mutation (-743A→T) was identified in six of the ten blood samples: four patients and two family members without disease incidence. Therefore, a point mutation was identified in the upstream regulatory region of the TTR gene in a Han Chinese family with familial vitreous amyloidosis.

Assuntos

RESUMO

We aimed to evaluate the levels of growth factors in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with autism after transplantation of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMNCs). Fourteen subjects diagnosed with autism received transplantation of CBMNCs first through intravenous infusion, and three times subsequently through intrathecal injections. A 2-mL sample of CSF was taken before each intrathecal injection. CSF levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All data are reported as means ± SD and were analyzed using the SPSS 10.0 software. One-way analysis of variance with post-hoc F-and Q-tests were performed for comparisons. NGF levels in the CSF were significantly increased after transplantation (213.54 ± 56.38 after the third versus 28.32 ± 12.22 ng/L after the first transplantation; P < 0.05), while VEGF and bFGF levels did not change significantly. Therefore, transplantation of CBMNCs could increase NGF levels in the CSF of patients with autism.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is used as a marker of cardiac dysfunction to predict heart failure mortality. The significance of the prognostic ability of BNP for liver cirrhosis remains unknown, although the levels of BNP seen in cirrhosis are high. We aimed to determine whether the BNP level is related to the stage of cirrhosis and could serve as a prognostic marker of cirrhosis (predict the 1-year all-cause mortality). We recruited 92 patients at different stages of cirrhosis and 81 controls matched by age and gender for this study. At admission, cardiac physical examination and BNP measurements were performed. Upon discharge, the 89 patients were followed up for 12 months. The median BNP levels of patients with cirrhosis were 167.0 pg/mL, which were significantly higher than those of the control group (167.0 vs 34.8 pg/mL, P = 0.001). Serum BNP levels were positively correlated with the Child score, the grade of esophageal varices, a history of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and the presence of ascites and collateral circulation. BNP levels above the median were associated with an increased occurrence of death within 12 months of discharge (log rank P = 0.025), as determined by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Esophageal varices, large/medium volume ascites, and BNP levels were related to the clinical outcome (P = 0.034, 0.030, and 0.025, respectively). Together, these results suggested that serum BNP levels are significantly correlated with the stage of cirrhosis, suggesting that BNP levels might serve as a significant predictor for 1-year all-cause mortality.

Assuntos

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Several previous studies have investigated whether the -160C/A epithelial cadherin promoter polymorphism confers an increased risk of diffuse gastric cancer (DGC), but conflicting results have been reported. To explore further the association of this polymorphism with DGC susceptibility, we performed an extensive search of relevant studies and conducted a meta-analysis to obtain a more precise estimate. We conducted a systematic literature search using the databases EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Knowledge for reports published before August 2012 that met certain criteria. Information was carefully and independently extracted from all eligible publications by 2 of the authors. Twelve distinct data sets from 10 case-control studies were analyzed. They included 1115 cases of DGC and 2965 controls. Although none of the genotypes was associated with DGC risk, a slight trend of increased risk was found among A allele carriers [odds ratio (OR) = 1.237, 95% confidence interval (95%CI), 0.940-1.627], CA heterozygotes (OR = 1.229, 95%CI = 0.938-1.610), and AA homozygotes (OR = 1.146, 95%CI = 0.684-1.918). However, when the cases were stratified by ethnicity, a diverging trend occurred in AA homozygotes between the Asian group (OR = 0.710, 95%CI = 0.328-1.536) and its Caucasian counterpart (OR = 1.434, 95%CI = 0.657-3.131). Taken together, the summarized analyses of these case-control studies demonstrated that the -160A of the epithelial cadherin gene exhibited no significant association with susceptibility for DGC; however, the results suggested that it is a potential genetic risk factor in both Asians and Caucasians. Additional large-scale, well-designed studies are necessary to confirm whether AA homozygosity is a protective factor in Asians.

Assuntos

RESUMO

We investigated a possible association between interleukin (IL)-10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and susceptibility to and severity of lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) in a Chinese cohort of 320 patients with LDD and 269 gender- and age-matched controls. The degree of disc degeneration was determined by magnetic resonance imaging using Schneiderman's classification. Genetic analysis of IL-10 promoter polymorphisms (at -1082 A/G, -819 T/C, and -592 A/C) was carried out by PCR-RFLP. A total of 134 herniated lumbar intervertebral discs were collected during surgery for IL-10 mRNA detection. For SNPs at -592, the A allele and AA genotype frequencies were significantly higher in LDD patients than in controls. Similarly, the AA genotype and A allele frequencies at -1082 were significantly higher in cases than in controls. Among the LDD subjects, carriers of AA at -592 and GG at -1082 had significantly lower mean IL-10 mRNA expression than the other two genotypes. The SNPs at each locus were not significantly associated with severity grade in the LDD patients. Logistic regression analyses showed that the AA at -1082, AA at -592, and IL-10 mRNA expression level were independent risk factors for LDD. We conclude that the IL-10 SNPs at -1082 A/G and -592 A/C as well as IL-10 mRNA in the herniated lumbar intervertebral discs are associated with susceptibility to LDD in this Chinese cohort, but not with disease severity.

Assuntos