POLYMORPHISM OF ANGIOTENSIN CONVERTING ENZYME GENE AND GENETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ASTHMA WITH FAMILIAL AGGREGATION

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) plays a key role in the metabolism of angiotensin Ⅱ (AT Ⅱ) and inactivation of bradykinins and tachykinins, which are potent bronchialconstrictors and mediators of inflammation asthma, and ACE is heavily expressed in the lungs. An insertion deletion (D/I) polymorphism of ACE gene has been shown to be associated with levels of ACE. We investigate whether the polymorphism of ACE gene is associated with asthma and bronchial responsiveness. Methods. A case control study was carried out in 50 asthmatics, 7 families with at least 2 asthmatic individuals, and 50 healthy subjects. The insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of ACE gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methacholine brocho provocation and pulmonary function tests were performed in all asthmatics. Results. There was an higher gene frequency of DD genotype of ACE gene in asthmatic subjects and families individuals compared with healthy subjects (46%, 53% vs 16%, P<0 05; odd ratio 4 98). Anhigher prevalence of DD genotype of ACE was in patients with bronchial hyperresposiveness (BHR) (67%vs 33%, P<0 05; odd ratio 3 8). Accordingly, the mean values of FEV 1% and FEV 1/FVC were higher in asthmatics carrying non DD alleles than patients with DD genotype (73 78% vs 56 56%, P<0 05; 79 19% vs 69 29%, P<0 05, respectively). Conclusion. These results suggested that DD allele of ACE genotype was significantly involved in genetic susceptibility to asthma. DD genotype of ACE might be a risk factor for the degree of airway obstruction, it could also be implicated in pathogenesis of bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

AN EPIDEMIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR GENETIC STUDY ON BREAST CANCER SUSCEPTIBILITY

Objectives. To investigate the genetic susceptibility for breast cancer of Chinese, a hospital-based case-control study, pedigree survey and molecular genetic study were conducted. Methods. Logistic regression model and stratification methods were used in the risk factors analysis. Li-Mantel-Gart and Falconer methods were used to analyze the segregation ratio and heritability. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were used to detect AI, G-banding technique was used to detect the chromosome aberration of peripheral blood lymphocyte. Results. Family history of breast cancer is related to enhanced breast cancer risk significantly, OR is 3905(95%CI=1079～1413), and it widely interacts with other risk factors. Accumulative incidence of breast cancer in first degree relatives is 999%, which is larger than that in second, third degree and non-blood relatives. Segregation ratio is 0021, heritability among first degree relatives is 356±58%. Frequencies of LOH at BRCA1 and BRCA2 loci in sporadic breast cancer are 612% and 577% respectively. In the sibs, both of them show LOH at D13S173 locus, and high frequencies of chromosome aberrations were observed. Conclusions. Genetic susceptibility contributes to breast cancer occurrence of Chinese, and its racial variation may be one of the important reasons for the large difference of incidence between western and eastern countries.

Medicine Referred in Poetries in Tang Dynasty In the Case of Li Bai, Du Fu and Bai Juyi

Poetry is an important part of traditional culture, which reached the zenith in Tang dynasty. Li Bai, Du Fu and Bai Juyi are famous poets, and there are much about medicine in their works, such as disease, pathogeny, herbs and life cultivation. Some poets described their feelings about getting sick in their poetries, which showed their psychologic status, social conditions and helped us to learn the development of medicine.