RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Health workers' awareness and knowledge of transplantation medicine can improve people's sensitivity and reduce their degree of opposition to donations. The medical literature contains numerous examples of attitudes toward organ transplantation and donation aimed at university students or medical staff members, but rarely for transplantation nurses. OBJECTIVE: The purposes of the study were to investigate the attitudes toward organ transplantation and donation among transplantation nurses and to explore the impact factors. METHODS: The study was conducted in 37 transplantation surgery wards in 22 hospitals using cross-sectional approach. SPSS (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, New York, USA) 7.0 software was used to analysis descriptive and inferential statistics for data. RESULTS: Five hundred thirty-six effective questionnaires were received and the effective rate was 89.33%. Nurses' mean age was 28.40 years with a mean service length of 6.54 years. Among these nurses, 66.6% and 78.0% were willing to accept organ transplantation surgery for themselves and their relatives, respectively. Of these nurses, 33.4% would donate their organs after death; whereas 39.9% were uncertain. Only 38.2% were willing to register in the national organ donation system. Of these nurses, 28.2% were willing to sign the organ donation consent forms when their relatives became potential organ donors, and 45.7% were uncertain. Eight independent variables that affected nurses' attitudes toward donating their organs from most to least significant were: ratio of nurse to bed, title, employment form, age, length of service, position, monthly income, and the highest educational degree earned. Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant correlation among nurses' attitudes toward organ transplantation, organ donation, and online registration. CONCLUSION: The attitude toward donation and transplantation in the hospitals was not too optimistic, and an improvement in the training regarding transplantation and donation among nurses in China is necessary. Nurses are an important group who generate opinion in the patient population, and their negative attitudes can have a significant negative impact on society's attitudes toward organ donation.
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Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Personal de Enfermería en Hospital/psicología , Trasplante de Órganos/psicología , Obtención de Tejidos y Órganos , Adulto , China , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Trasplante de Órganos/enfermería , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
A growing body of evidence suggests that the 584C/T polymorphism in the endothelial lipase (EL) gene contributes to the process of coronary artery disease (CAD). The present study aimed to reveal the potential relationship between the EL 584C/T gene polymorphism and early-onset CAD, CAD severity, and lipid levels in a Chinese Han population. Participants comprised 135 early-onset CAD patients and 166 controls. EL 584C/T genotypic and allelic frequencies were detected by PCR. The frequencies of the CC, CT, and TT genotypes were 58.4, 38.6, and 3.0%, respectively, within the control group, and 62.2, 33.3, and 4.5%, respectively, in the early-onset CAD group. There was no significant difference in the frequency of CC genotype and T allele carriers between early-onset CAD patients and controls. The frequency of the T allele was 22.3% in the control group and 21.1% in the early-onset CAD group. The T allele frequency of the variant was not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.766), even after adjustments for age, gender, smoking status, hypertension, DM, and lipids were made. There was also no significant association between the genotype and the severity of CAD (P = 0.596). Furthermore, there was no correlation between the genotype and lipid levels or their ratios in both groups. The EL 584C/T gene polymorphism, therefore, was not associated with early-onset CAD or the severity of CAD in this Chinese Han population, suggesting that this variant is not always involved in the pathogenesis of early-onset CAD.
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Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/genética , Citosina/metabolismo , Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad , Lipasa/genética , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , Tirosina/metabolismo , Pueblo Asiatico/genética , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Femenino , Frecuencia de los Genes , Genotipo , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
UNLABELLED: This study assessed independent associations and interactions of IL-6 promoter alleles (-174G/C and -634C/G), calcium intake and physical activity with bone mass among pre-menarche Chinese girls. The -634 CC carriers, greater calcium intake and physical activity were associated with better bone mass. The gene-bone association was more pronounced among girls with high physical activity or with low calcium intake. INTRODUCTION: The association between interleukin (IL)-6 promoter polymorphisms and bone mass remains in debate. This cross-sectional study examined the association between the IL-6 promoter alleles (-174G/C and -634C/G) and bone mass, and assessed if the association could be modified by calcium intake or physical activity in pre-menarche Chinese girls. METHODS: Two-hundred and twenty-eight healthy pre-menarche girls aged 9-11 years were recruited from primary schools in Guangzhou, China by sending letters to parents. None of them had diseases or medications known to affect bone metabolism. The IL-6 promoter genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP, and BMD and BMC at the total body, lumbar spine, total hip and femoral neck were measured by DXA. Calcium intake and physical activity were assessed by face-to-face questionnaire interview. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-six subjects completed the entire study. We did not detect gene polymorphism at the IL-6 -174G/C locus, all were GG homozygotes. The IL-6 -634C/G polymorphism was significantly associated with both BMD and BMC even after adjusting for age and weight. Girls with CC genotype had higher levels of BMC and BMD than G allele carriers (+8.3% for the total body BMC, and +2.9%, +5.8%, and +5.7% for BMDs at the total body, total hip, and femoral neck, respectively; P < 0.05). The favorable effect of physical activity on BMDs at the total hip and femoral neck was much more pronounced in CC carriers than in G allele carriers, and the CC genotype associated higher BMDs at the total hip and femoral neck were observed only in girls with high level physical activity (P for interactions = 0.036 and 0.021, adjusted for age and weight). Calcium had a more benefit to the total body BMC in G allele carriers than in CC carriers, and the G allele-associated lower total body BMC was found only in subjects with low calcium intake. CONCLUSION: The IL-6 -634C/G polymorphism was significantly associated with BMD and the association might be modified by calcium intake or physical activity in pre-menarche Chinese girls.
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Densidad Ósea/genética , Calcio de la Dieta/administración & dosificación , Interleucina-6/genética , Actividad Motora/fisiología , Densidad Ósea/fisiología , Niño , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Cuello Femoral/fisiología , Genotipo , Articulación de la Cadera/fisiología , Humanos , Vértebras Lumbares/fisiología , Polimorfismo Genético , Regiones Promotoras GenéticasRESUMEN
The adipocyte enhancer-binding protein (AEBP1) is a novel transcriptional repressor with carboxypeptidase activity. A two-hybrid screen was conducted to identify components of AEBP1 that might be important in regulating its activity. The gamma5 subunit of a heterotrimeric G protein was shown to bind specifically to AEBP1 and to attenuate its transcriptional repression activity. Adipogenic stimulation selectively decreased the Ggamma5 level and enhanced the transcriptional repression activity of AEBP1 during mitotic clonal expansion at the onset of adipogenesis. Thus, the actions of Ggamma5 and AEBP1 are directly linked, which could provide the basis for the regulation of transcription at the onset of differentiation. This report shows that a signal-transducing molecule is involved, by direct protein-protein interaction, in the regulation of transcription during adipogenesis.
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Adipocitos/citología , Proteínas de Unión al GTP/química , Proteínas de Unión al GTP/metabolismo , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Proteínas de la Membrana/metabolismo , Proteínas Represoras/metabolismo , Transcripción Genética/genética , Células 3T3 , Adipocitos/metabolismo , Animales , Proteínas de Unión al Calcio , Diferenciación Celular , Núcleo Celular/metabolismo , Técnica del Anticuerpo Fluorescente , Proteínas de Unión al GTP/genética , Péptidos y Proteínas de Señalización Intercelular , Proteínas de la Membrana/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteínas de la Membrana/genética , Ratones , Mitosis , Pruebas de Precipitina , Unión Proteica , ARN Mensajero/genética , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , Proteínas Recombinantes/química , Proteínas Recombinantes/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes/metabolismo , Proteínas Represoras/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteínas Represoras/genética , Fracciones Subcelulares/metabolismo , Factores de Tiempo , Transfección , Levaduras/genéticaRESUMEN
We have identified a novel transcriptional repressor, AEBP2, that binds to a regulatory sequence (termed AE-1) located in the proximal promoter region of the aP2 gene that encodes the adipose fatty acid-binding protein. Sequence analysis of AEBP2 cDNA revealed that it encodes a protein containing three Gli-Krüppel (Cys2-His2)-type zinc fingers. Northern blot analysis revealed two transcripts (4.5 and 3.5 kilobases) which were ubiquitously expressed in every mouse tissue examined. In co-transfection assays, AEBP2 repressed transcription from the homologous aP2 promoter containing multiple copies of the AE-1 sequence. Moreover, a chimeric construct encoding a fusion AEBP2 protein with the Gal4 DNA-binding domain was able to repress the transcriptional activity of a heterologous promoter containing the Gal4-binding sequence. The transcriptional repression function of AEBP2 was completely abolished when one of the conserved histidine residues and a flanking serine residue in the middle zinc finger were replaced with an arginine residue. The defective transcriptional repression function of the mutant derivative was due neither to lack of expression nor to a failure to localize to the nucleus. Moreover, both the wild-type and mutant derivative of either the histidine-tagged recombinant AEBP2 proteins or the in vitro translated Gal4-AEBP2 fusion proteins were equally able to bind to the target DNA. These results suggest that a portion of the zinc finger structure may play a direct role in transcriptional repression function, but not in DNA binding.
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Proteínas Represoras/genética , Proteínas Represoras/aislamiento & purificación , Dedos de Zinc , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Animales , Clonación Molecular , Ratones , Datos de Secuencia MolecularRESUMEN
Adipocyte differentiation involves the transcriptional activation of several genes in triglyceride metabolism, including the adipose P2 (aP2 or 422) gene that encodes the adipocyte lipid-binding protein ALBP. Within the mouse aP2 promoter region, the AE-1 sequence functions as either a positive or a negative element in the regulation of aP2 gene expression. The AE-1 sequence is the binding site for the positive murine (3T3) adipocyte factor C/EBP-alpha, several human preadipocyte factors, and a 3T3 preadipocyte factor(s) that has been implicated as a repressor of aP2 gene expression. Here we report the cloning of new complementary DNAs that encode the 3T3 preadipocyte factor (termed AEBP1) and demonstrate that AEBP1 expression is abolished during adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, we show that an activity of a carboxypeptidase associated with AEBP1 is important in the transcriptional repression function of AEBP1. Thus AEBP1 might represent a new type of transcription factor that regulates transcription by cleavage of factors involved in transcription.
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Adipocitos/metabolismo , Carboxipeptidasas/metabolismo , Proteínas de la Membrana/metabolismo , Proteínas Represoras/metabolismo , Células 3T3 , Adipocitos/citología , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Animales , Secuencia de Bases , Proteínas de Unión al Calcio , Carboxipeptidasas/genética , Diferenciación Celular , Cloranfenicol O-Acetiltransferasa/genética , Clonación Molecular , ADN Complementario , Escherichia coli , Mutación del Sistema de Lectura , Péptidos y Proteínas de Señalización Intercelular , Proteínas de la Membrana/genética , Ratones , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusión/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusión/metabolismo , Proteínas Represoras/genética , Eliminación de SecuenciaRESUMEN
A family of 16 genes encoding the mouse ribosomal protein S24 was identified, and four members from this family were cloned. A single expressed intron-containing S24 gene (termed mrpS24) and one pseudogene (mrpS24p) were completely sequenced and characterized. The mrpS24 gene has seven exons and six introns spanning over 5.1 x 10(3) nucleotides (nt). The cap site of S24 was mapped to a G residue four nt upstream of a polypyrimidine tract and 15 nt downstream of a TATA-like (TATGA) element. The 5' region (-325 to +33) of the mrpS24 gene has a functional promoter that was able to express the fused chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. Two different forms of mouse S24 cDNA clones were previously isolated. Sequence analysis showed that one of these cDNA clones (termed S24a) lacks the entire exon V sequence (18 nt), and the deduced amino acid sequence is missing a C-terminal lysine residue encoded by the other cDNA (S24b). The pseudogene mrpS24p is flanked by an 11-bp direct repeat, and its sequence is almost identical to the S24 cDNA sequence, but it lacks two mini-exons, V and VI (20 nt), as in the cases of the human and rat S24 cDNAs. RT-PCR experiments demonstrated the existence of a third form (S24c) that similarly lacks both of the mini-exons, and suggested that different species of S24 mRNA might arise from alternative splicing of the mini-exons V and VI. Northern blot analysis showed that S24 expression is down- and up-regulated during adipocyte differentiation and in cellular transformation, respectively. RNase protection assays and RT-PCR experiments suggested that these cell-specific changes of S24 mRNA levels are mainly due to fluctuations in S24c mRNA level. Our results provide the first indication that a ribosomal protein gene is regulated by alternative usage of two mini-exons in a cell-specific manner.
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Empalme Alternativo , Compuestos de Anilina , Familia de Multigenes , ARN Mensajero/genética , Proteínas Ribosómicas/genética , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Animales , Secuencia de Bases , Línea Celular , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Intrones , Ratones , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Regiones Promotoras Genéticas , Mapeo RestrictivoRESUMEN
Overexpression of the c-erbB-2/neu protooncogene has recently been shown in ovarian tumors collected from the United States. It is known that environmental and cultural factors may contribute to certain types of cancer, therefore, we examined expression of c-erbB-2/neu in ovarian tumors collected from China by immunohistochemical staining. Out of 81 tumor specimens, 57 (70.4%) were found to be immunopositive, whereas only one out of 17 (5.9%) normal ovarian tissue samples was slightly positive. Our results indicate that overexpression of c-erbB-2/neu is a general phenomenon for ovarian cancer regardless of different population. To search for a c-erbB/neu overexpressing cell line for future study on molecular mechanism, we also analyzed 13 cancer cell lines from the female genital tract for expression of c-erbB-2/neu. The c-erbB-2/neu RNA was found to be overexpressed at least 100-fold in one of the four ovarian cancer cell lines examined. An aberrant c-erbB-2/neu RNA was also found to be overexpressed in this cell line. Southern blot analysis indicated that the c-erbB-2/neu was amplified 2-4-fold in this line, and some of these alleles have structural alteration which may account for expression of the aberrant c-erbB-2/neu RNA. Since the 2-4-fold gene amplification is not proportional to the greater than 100-fold overexpression in RNA, other mechanisms such as transcriptional or posttranscriptional control must be involved in overexpression of this gene in ovarian cancer.
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Neoplasias Ováricas/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas/genética , Proto-Oncogenes , Northern Blotting , Southern Blotting , ADN de Neoplasias/genética , Femenino , Amplificación de Genes , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Reordenamiento Génico , Humanos , ARN Mensajero/genética , ARN Neoplásico/genética , Receptor ErbB-2 , Células Tumorales CultivadasRESUMEN
To verify whether microtubules are involved in the mechanism of axoplasmic transport in vivo, [3H]leucine was injected into ventral horns of rats, and 3 h later Ca2+ or other drugs injected into sciatic nerves. The injection of 50-200 mM Ca2+, raising intra-axoplasmic Ca2+ levels, blocked transport above the intraneural injecting site and decreased microtubular density. Conversely, injection of 10 mM EGTA lowering the intra-axoplasmic Ca2+ induced the same changes. By combining the injection of 50 mM colchicine with 25 mM Ca2+ or 5 mM EGTA, the effects were additive in that transport was weakened further or even blocked and microtubules disappeared. Therefore, microtubules seemed to be a mediator between the injected drug and the blockade of transport and Ca2+ to be a regulator of axoplasmic transport in vivo. Tubulin, a subunit of microtubules, contains SH groups and Cd2+ is a chelate of them. By injection of 50-100 mM Cd2+, transport was weakened or blocked. The sulfhydryl inhibitor, N-ethylmaleimide increased, but the sulfhydryl donor, dimercaptosuccinate, abolished the effect of Cd2+ on transport. N-ethylmaleimide also amplified the Cd2+ effect on decreasing SH group content of sciatic nerve homogenate. There were 8.7 SH groups per tubulin monomer isolated from rabbit brain. The SH groups of tubulin in vitro and microtubular density in vivo were decreased with the increase of Cd2+ concentration. All these results indicated that microtubules play a role in the mechanism of axoplasmic transport.