To study the influence of siRNA targeting survivin gene on the biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one pair of 21bp reverse repeated motifs of survivin target sequence with 9 spacers were synthesized and inserted into plasmid psilencer2. 1 to generate siRNA eukaryotic expression vector. After stable transfection into HepG2 cells, the biological behaviors of the survivin siRNA transfected HCC cells were observed. After the recombinant plasmid Psilence (+)-survivin was successfully constructed, survivin mRNA and protein expression inhibition ratio reached 73% and 75% respectively compared to control groups. Transfected cells with survivin siRNA demonstrated significantly inhibited cell growth and increased apoptosis. Subsequent study in nude mouse model demonstrated lower succeeding rate in cells transfected with survivin siRNA and slow growth rate. The results elucidated the siRNA targeting survivin gene could specially suppress its expression in HepG2 cells and inhibit tumor cells growth both in vivo and in vitro. This provides a theoretical basis to turn the drug resistance in tumor cells.

To examine the deletion and point mutation of WWOX (WW domain containing oxidoreductase) exons 6–8 in human non-small cell lung cancer and their possible relationship with pathological stages, tumor tissues and the corresponding normal tissues were obtained from 44 Chinese patients who had undergone surgery for non-small cell lung cancer. RNA was extracted from each sample and deletion and mutation of WWOX exons 6–8 were analyzed by RT-PCR and DNA sequencing. Our results showed that 28 of 44 (63.6%) lung cancer samples showed loss of WWOX exons 6–8 transcript and the deletion was detected in only 3 of 44 (6.8%) corresponding adjacent normal tissues (P<0.05). The transcript sequencing analyses of the 16 lung cancer samples without transcript loss of WWOX exons 6–8 revealed no difference from the sequence of Gen-Bank. Moreover, the deletion of WWOX exons 6–8 was significantly higher in the smokers when compared with the non-smokers. It is also higher in the men and squamous carcinomas than in women and adenocarcinomas (P<0.05). The deletion, however, was not found to be associated with pathological stages of the tumors. Our study documented a high incidence of deletion of WWOX exons 6–8 in non-small cell lung cancer in Chinese patients and suggested that the frequent loss of WWOX exons 6–8 might play an important role in the tumorigenesis of non-small cell lung cancer in Chinese. WWOX exons 6–8 may serves as a candidate molecular target of smoking carcinogenesis, and point mutation is not a predominant way of alteration of WWOX exons 6–8.

The changes in the expression of cardiac bradykinin B2 receptors (BKB2Rs) and endogenous nitrix oxide synthase (eNOs) mRNA were studied in rats with remnant kidneys. Thirty-two rats were divided into sham-operated and experimental groups randomly (n=16 in each group). The remnant kidney model was established by 2-stage 5/6 nephrectomy. Blood pressure and serum Cr were measured before operation and 15, 30, 60, 120 days after 5/6 nephrectomy. Eight animals in each group were killed at the first month and 4th month after the operation. The expression of BKB2Rs and eNOs mRNAs was detected by using RT-real time PCR from isolated left ventricle, and their correlation was also analyzed. The results showed that blood pressure and serum Cr were increased significantly 15 days after 5/6 nephrectomy (bothP<0.01), and the hypertension and azomia existed constantly till 120 days but had no significant fluctuation. Cardiac BKB2Rs and eNOs mRNA was declined time-dependently (bothP<0.05). And there was a close positive correlation between cardiac BKB2Rs and eNOs mRNA (r=0.82,P<0.01). It was suggested that a significant chronic renal failure can be produced at least 15 days after 5/6 nephrotomy and can sustain more than 4 months. The expression of BKB2Rs and eNOs was down-regulated time-dependently in this model, and there was a significant correlation between them.

To determining the postmortem interval (PMI) through quantitative analysis of the DNA degradation of cell nucleus in human brain and spleen by using image analysis technique (IAT). The brain and spleen tissues from 32 cadavers with known PMI were collected, subjected to cell smear every 1 h within the first 5–36 h after death, stained by Feulgen-Vans staining, Three indices reflecting DNA in brain cells (astrocytes) and splenic lymphocytes, including integral optical density (IOD), average optical density (AOD), average gray (AG) were measured by employing the mage analysis instrument. The results showed that IOD and AOD declined and AG increased with the prolongation of dead time within 5–36 h. A correlation between the PMI and gray parameters (IOD, AOD and AG) was identified and the corresponding regression equation was obtained. The parameters (IOD, AOD and AG) were proved to be effective quantitative indicators for accurate estimation of PMI within 5–36 h after death.