[Differential expression profile of long non-coding RNA in regressive scar and mature scar].

Objective: To analyze the expression profile of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in regressive scar and mature scar.

Methods: Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining were used to examine the histology of regressive scar and mature scar.The technique of IncRNA microarray was used to test the IncRNA expression profile in regressive scar and mature scar.

Preclinical PK/PD model for combined administration of erlotinib and sunitinib in the treatment of A549 human NSCLC xenograft mice.

Aim: Combined therapy of EGFR TKI and VEGFR TKI may produce a greater therapeutic benefit and overcome EGFR TKI-induced resistance. However, a previous study shows that a combination of EGFR TKI erlotinib (ER) with VEGFR TKI sunitinib (SU) did not improve the overall survival in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study we examined the anticancer effect of ER, SU and their combination in the treatment of A549 human NSCLC xenograft mice, and conducted PK/PD modeling and simulations to optimize the dose regimen.

Correction: Recombination Pattern Reanalysis of Some HIV-1 Circulating Recombination Forms Suggest the Necessity and Difficulty of Revision.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Dexamethasone suppresses the growth of human non-small cell lung cancer via inducing estrogen sulfotransferase and inactivating estrogen.

Aim: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used synthetic glucocorticoid, which has shown anti-cancer efficacy and anti-estrogenic activity. In this study we explored the possibility that DEX might be used as an endocrine therapeutic agent to treat human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: The viability and proliferation of human NSCLC cell lines A549 and H1299 were assessed in vitro.

[Vision on the past, present and future of HIV-1 CRF01_AE].

CRF01_AE has been the major HIV-1 strain circulating in China with unique epidemiological features. In this paper, this strain is fully described on its origination, nomenclature and the feature of circulation, nationally and globally. Data on the related pathogenesis and combination with other strains are also described.

Near Full-Length Genome Sequences of Two Novel HIV-1 Recombinant Forms Detected in Henan Province, China.

In recent years, the population infected through sexual contact has seen the fastest growing prevalence of HIV transmission in Henan province, China. Here, we report two novel human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) recombinant form detected from a comprehensive HIV-1 molecular epidemiologic study among heterosexuals. Recombinant analyses of the near full-length genome of the two novel HIV-1 recombinant isolates: 01B.

Testing Allele Transmission of an SNP Set Using a Family-Based Generalized Genetic Random Field Method.

Family-based association studies are commonly used in genetic research because they can be robust to population stratification (PS). Recent advances in high-throughput genotyping technologies have produced a massive amount of genomic data in family-based studies. However, current family-based association tests are mainly focused on evaluating individual variants one at a time.

[Features of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in nasal polyposis].

Objective: To detect the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers in nasal polyposis (NP) and to determine the effect of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) on EMT in cultured nasal epithelial cells.

Methods: The specimens were obtained from sinus mucosa of 10 NP patients and inferior turbinate mucosa of 10 nasal septum deviation patients. The difference of mRNA expression of E-cadherin, β-catenin , zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1), vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in tissue and cultured nasal epithelial cells was detected by real-time PCR.

HLA-DRB1*08:03:02 and HLA-DQB1*06:01:01 are associated with house dust mite-sensitive allergic rhinitis in Chinese subjects.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a multifactorial immunologic disease that is influenced by both genetic and environment factors. House dust mites (HDMs) are important inhalant aeroallergens and are an epidemiologic risk factor for AR. Similarly, the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genes DQB1 and DRB1 have been shown to be associated with AR and play an important role in the regulation of the immune response.

MicroRNA-29a induces insulin resistance by targeting PPARδ in skeletal muscle cells.

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) induces metabolic syndrome, which is often characterized by insulin resistance (IR), in adults. Previous research has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) play a role in the target genes involved in this process, but the mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we examined miRNA profiles using samples of skeletal muscles from both IUGR and control rat offspring whose mothers were fed either a protein-restricted diet or a diet which involved normal amounts of protein during pregnancy, respectively.

The Antiviral Activity of Approved and Novel Drugs against HIV-1 Mutations Evaluated under the Consideration of Dose-Response Curve Slope.

Objectives: This study was designed to identify common HIV-1 mutation complexes affecting the slope of inhibition curve, and to propose a new parameter incorporating both the IC50 and the slope to evaluate phenotypic resistance.

Methods: Utilizing site-directed mutagenesis, we constructed 22 HIV-1 common mutation complexes. IC50 and slope of 10 representative approved drugs and a novel agent against these mutations were measured to determine the resistance phenotypes.

Recombinant Patterns of Nine Novel HIV-1 Recombinant Strains Identified in Hebei Province, China.

We found cluster 1 and cluster 2 that were identified as two potential circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) by analyzing the recombinant breakpoints and phylogenetic tree. Three sequences composed of CRF01_AE, subtype C, and potential subtype B (N/A) in cluster 1 had nearly identical recombinant breakpoints, and four sequences composed of CRF01_AE and subtype B in cluster 2 possessed identical breakpoints. Demographic characteristics indicated that there were no epidemiological linkages among three subjects in cluster 1 and four subjects in cluster 2, respectively.

Genomic Characterization of a Novel HIV-1 Second-Generation Recombinant Form Originated from CRF01_AE and CRF08_BC in Dali Prefecture of Yunnan Province, China.

Yunnan seems to be a "hot spot" region of HIV-1 recombination. CRF01_AE and subtype CRF08_BC are two main HIV-1 clades circulating in Yunnan. We report here a novel HIV-1 second-generation recombinant form originated from CRF01_AE and CRF08_BC.

Identification and characterization of two human immunodeficiency virus type 1 unique recombinant forms from Yunnan, China.

[Image: see text]

[Analysis on gene sequence of HIV isolated from men who have sex with men in Beijing].

Objective: To analyze genetic characteristics of HIV isolated from men who have sex with men (MSM) in Beijing and predict the epidemic trend in this population.

Methods: All of the HIV gene sequences in our laboratory obtained from MSM in Beijing were used, which were aligned with all of the HIV gene sequences from MSM and other populations in China downloaded from Los Alamos HIV Database. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by using software PhyML 3.

Combined effect between two functional polymorphisms of SLC6A12 gene is associated with temporal lobe epilepsy.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common epilepsy subtype with complex genetic structure. A recent study in four populations (Ireland, UK, Australia and Finland) reported an allelic association between betaine/GABA transporter-1(BGT-1 or SLC6A12) and mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis. To demonstrate the association between SLC6A12 gene polymorphisms and TLE, TaqMan method was used to genotype five single-nucleotide polymorphisms of SLC6A12 gene in 358 TLE patients and 596 nonepileptic control subjects of Chinese Han origin.

The Identification of a Novel HIV-1 CRF01_AE/B Recombinant Based on Near Full-Length Genomic Analysis in Yunnan Province, China.

Recombination contributes substantially to the genetic diversity of HIV-1. Recently, many kinds of circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) and unique recombinant forms (URFs) were identified in China, especially in areas with multiple subtypes of HIV-1 circulating. Yunnan, which borders the "Golden triangle" region of South China, is an epicenter of HIV-1 infections in China.

A Three-Way Interaction among Maternal and Fetal Variants Contributing to Congenital Heart Defects.

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) develop through a complex interplay between genetic variants, epigenetic modifications, and maternal environmental exposures. Genetic studies of CHDs have commonly tested single genetic variants for association with CHDs. Less attention has been given to complex gene-by-gene and gene-by-environment interactions.

Characterization of two HIV-1 infectors during initial antiretroviral treatment, and the emergence of phenotypic resistance in reverse transcriptase-associated mutation patterns.

Background: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is recommended to control the infection of HIV-1. HIV-1 drug resistance becomes an obstacle to HAART due to the accumulation of specific mutations in the RT coding region. The development of resistance mutations may be more complex than previously thought.

A considerable proportion of CRF01_AE strains in China originated from circulating intrasubtype recombinant forms (CIRF).

Background: In this study, the prevalence of HIV-1 CRF01_AE intrasubtype recombinants in China is estimated and their contributions to the epidemic are explored.

Methods: Available HIV-1 complete genomes of CRF01_AE were retrieved from the HIV database. The two alignments were evaluated with RDP3.

HIV-1 is spreading out of former high-risk population through heterosexual transmission in Hebei, China.

Introduction: Multiple specific populations, including MSMs, IDUs, and FPDs, are involved in HIV epidemic in China. In the recent years, HIV transmission due to heterosexual transmission also contributed greatly to HIV epidemic in China. Very few studies have been fulfilled to characterize relationships of HIV-1 strains prevalent in different populations.

HIV-1 Thai B strain has spread out of former plasma donors into general population through sexual contact in Henan, China.

Henan, China is characterized by the outbreak of HIV epidemic of Thai B strain in former plasma donors in 1990s. After the forbidden of paid blood donation, whether Thai B strain will spread out of former plasma donors into sexual transmitted population is unknown. To answer the question, phylogenetic analysis was used to explore relationships of HIV strains circulating in those two populations in the study.

Identification and characterization of NF-kappaB binding sites in human miR-1908 promoter.

Background: Previous studies reported that miR-1908 was highly expressed in mature human adipocytes. Adipokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) that was known to activate NF-kappaB signaling could affect the expression of miR-1908 in adipocytes. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms.