Gene

We report the progression of splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) with circulating villous lymphocytes to Burkitt lymphoma with the presence of a t(8;14)(q24;q32) followed by a highly aggressive course. While the initial indolent lymphoma had an IgM λ immunophenotype the Burkitt lymphoma was IgM κ-positive. Immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IGH) sequence analysis showed no identity between the two clones. We conclude that Burkitt lymphoma can occur in patients with SMZL, although not necessarily of identical clonal origin.

Among about 50 Paragonimus species, Paragonimus proliferus is a rare species characterized by extremely large metacercariae, most of which are present excysted in the crab hosts. Recently, this species was discovered by us in northern Vietnam as the first record outside of China. DNA sequences of both second internal transcribed spacer region (ITS2) and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene (CO1) genes of the metacercariae and adult worms of P. proliferus of the Vietnamese isolates were identical with those of Paragonimus hokuoensis in the DNA database of the GenBank. To confirm those observations and to clarify the molecular phylogenetic status of P. proliferus, we determined the ITS2 and CO1 sequences of the metacercariae of P. proliferus obtained in Yunnan province, China where the original specimen was discovered. The results show that both ITS2 and CO1 sequences of P. proliferus of the Chinese isolates are identical with those of P. proliferus of the Vietnamese isolates and are also identical with those of P. hokuoensis that appeared in the DNA database (obtained in Yunnan province), suggesting the synonymy of P. hokuoensis with P. proliferus. By phylogenetic tree analyses, all samples of P. proliferus from China and Vietnam together with P. hokuoensis constructed a distinct group within, or very close to, Paragonimus skrjabini complex in both trees.

Summary. Background: Protein Z (PZ) serves as a cofactor for activated factor X inhibition by the PZ-dependent protease inhibitor. In vivo and in vitro studies aimed at investigating the role of PZ levels in venous thombosis have produced conflicting results. Objectives: We investigated whether reduced PZ levels and PZ gene common variants are associated deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Patients and methods: In 197 patients with DVT and in 197 age-matched and sex-matched controls, PZ plasma levels and gene polymorphisms were evaluated by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and direct cycle sequence analysis. Results: Similar PZ levels were found in controls (1.44; SD 0.63 μg mL−1) and in patients (1.44; SD 0.96 μg mL−1). The incidence of PZ levels below the 5.0 (0.52 μg mL−1) or the 2.5 percentile of controls (0.47 μg mL−1) was higher in patients (10.2% and 8.7%, respectively) than in controls {4.1% [odds ratio (OR) 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–7.3], and 2.0% (OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.5–13.9), respectively}. This relationship was independent of the effect of age, sex, and factor V Leiden and FII A20210 alleles [OR 2.8 (95% CI 1.1–7.3), and OR 4.9 (95% CI 1.4–17.3)]. PZ levels were associated with the intron C G-42A and the intron F G79A polymorphisms in cases (r2 = 0.129) and in controls (r2 = 0.140). However, frequencies of the PZ gene polymorphisms were similar in the two groups and were not associated with very low PZ levels. Conclusions: The present data suggest an association between very low PZ plasma levels and the occurrence of DVT, with PZ gene polymorphisms contributing little to this relationship.

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), e.g., ESBLs of the TEM or SHV type, compromise the efficacies of expanded-spectrum cephalosporins. An SHV non-ESBL that hydrolyzes only narrow-spectrum cephalosporins can be converted into an SHV ESBL through substitutions at three amino acid positions, 179, 238, or 238–240. In order to improve detection of SHV ESBLs, a novel method, based on real-time PCR monitored with fluorescently labeled hybridization probes and followed by melting curve analysis, was developed. It is able to (i) detect bla SHV genes with high degrees of sensitivity and specificity, (ii) discriminate between bla SHV non-ESBL and bla SHV ESBL , and (iii) categorize the SHV ESBL producers into three phenotypically relevant subgroups. This method, termed the SHV melting curve mutation detection method, represents a powerful tool for epidemiological studies with SHV ESBLs. It even has the potential to be used in the diagnostic microbiology laboratory, because up to 32 clinica...

We have investigated the developmental transitions of myosin heavy chain (MHC) gene expression in the rat extraocular musculature (EOM) at the mRNA level using Sl-nuclease mapping techniques and at the protein level by polypeptide mapping and ...

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is being used with increasing frequency for the treatment of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Here, we report two patients treated with amygdalohippocampal (AH)-DBS for drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. Two patients with temporal lobe epilepsy were admitted to Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital. The first patient was a 34-year-old male with a 31-year history of epileptic seizures. The second patient was a 27-year-old male with a 19-year history of drug-resistant epilepsy. The patients received a comprehensive presurgical workup and were considered unsuitable candidates for resective surgery. AH-DBS was recommended for the two patients. The last follow-up for patient 1 was 36 months after surgery and the final parameter settings were 3.6 mA, 450 μsec, 130 Hz and cycling with 60 sec on, 180 sec off. The last follow-up for patient 2 was 18 months after surgery and the final parameter settings were 2.6 mA, 450 μsec, 130 Hz and cycling with 60 sec on, 180...

Maize is a major crop and a model plant for studying C4 photosynthesis and leaf development. However, a genomewide regulatory network of leaf development is not yet available. This knowledge is useful for developing C3 crops to perform C4 photosynthesis for enhanced yields. Here, using 22 transcriptomes of developing maize leaves from dry seeds to 192 h post imbibition, we studied gene up- and down-regulation and functional transition during leaf development and inferred sets of strongly coexpressed genes. More significantly, we developed a method to predict transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) and their cognate transcription factors (TFs) using genomic sequence and transcriptomic data. The method requires not only evolutionary conservation of candidate TFBSs and sets of strongly coexpressed genes but also that the genes in a gene set share the same Gene Ontology term so that they are involved in the same biological function. In addition, we developed another method to predict...

In view of the increasing interest in the possible role played by hospital and municipal wastewater systems in the selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, biofilms were investigated using enterococci, staphylococci, Enterobacteriaceae, and heterotrophic bacteria as indicator ...

Trichothiodystrophy (TTD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by brittle hair with reduced sulfur content, ichthyosis, peculiar face, and mental and growth retardation. Clinical photosensitivity is present in approximately 50% of TTD patients but is not associated with an elevated frequency of cancers. Previous complementation studies show that the photosensitivity in nearly all of the studied patients is due to a defect in the same genetic locus that underlies the cancer-prone genetic disorder xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XP-D). Nucleotide-sequence analysis of the ERCC2 cDNA from three TTD cell strains (TTD1V1, TTD3VI, and TTD1RO) revealed mutations within the region from amino acid 713-730 and within previously identified helicase functional domains. The various clinical presentations and DNA repair characteristics of the cell strains can be correlated with the particular mutations found in the ERCC2 locus. Mutations of Arg658 to either His or Cys correlate with...

An open reading frame encoding the ectoine biosynthesis genes was cloned from the Bacillus halodurans genome. An expression plasmid containing the operon was introduced into Escherichia coli cells, and the recombinant ectoine was quantified. The secondary structure of ectoine biosynthesis proteins were predicted and was quite similar to that of reported proteins from eubacteria.

Aims:  The presented study was aimed to reveal transcriptional regulation of genes involved in SDS degradation (sdsA and sdsB) in Pseudomonas sp. ATCC19151. In addition, the ability of Pseudomonas sp. ATCC19151 to degrade anionic surfactants present in commercial detergent and septic tank drain was analysed.Methods and Results:  Strain ATCC19151, at 30°C, degrades all SDS present in the liquid medium (up to 4% w/v of SDS) within 48 h. ATCC19151 grows in the presence up to 15% (v/v) ‘Fairy’ commercial detergent and mineralizes 35% of present anionic surfactants. Analysis of the sdsA (PsdsA) and divergent sdsB (PsdsB) gene promoter activities revealed that SdsB acts as a positive regulator of sdsA and sdsB transcription. PsdsA and PsdsB activities rose significantly in the presence of the SDS, indicating inducibility of sdsA and sdsB transcription. DNA-binding assay indicated that SdsB directly regulates the transcription of sdsA and sdsB genes. Strain ATCC19151 grew in a sterile septic tank drain and on commercial detergent as sole source of carbon.Conclusions:  SdsA enables Pseudomonas sp. ATCC19151 to utilize SDS as a sole carbon source. SdsB is positive transcriptional regulator of sdsA and sdsB genes.Significance and Impact of the Study:  Ability of ATCC19151 to degrade anionic surfactants makes Pseudomonas sp. ATCC19151 a good candidate for bioremediation.