Identifying Driver Genes Mutations with Clinical Significance in Thyroid Cancer

Advances in technology are enabling gene mutations in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)to be analyzed and clinical outcomes,such as recurrence,to be predicted.To date,the most common genetic mutation in PTC is in BRAF kinase(BRAF).However,whether mutations in other genes coincide with those in BRAF remains to be clarified.The aim of this study was to find mutations in other genes that co-exist with mutated BRAF,and to analyze their frequency and clinical relevance in PTC.Clinical and genetic data were collected from 213 PTC patients with a total of 36,572 mutation sites in 735 genes.After matching with genes from PTC entries in a global database(NCBI Gene),69 genes with mutations in coding regions were chosen for further study.Through frequency-based analysis,we identified commonly mutated genes co-existing with mutated BRAF and,using the mutation count correlation matrix(MCCM)method,analyzed their incidence according to age and gender.We designed Chord diagrams to reveal gene relationships concerning age and gender,and found that mutations in ALK,ATM,COL1A1,MSTIR,PRKCA,and WNK1 most commonly coincide with mutated BRAF,followed by APC,AURKA,and AURKB.These findings provide further insight into the genetic profile of PTC.

Mutation Characteristics of inhA and katG Genes in Isoniazid-Resistant Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Patients in Xinjiang

Objective:To analyze the mutation characteristics of inhA and katG genes in isoniazid-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Xinjiang.Methods:The katG and inhA in 148 strains of isoniazid-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis were amplified through fluorescence quantitative PCR,and the amplified products were sequenced and compared.Results:The inhA gene mutation rate of 148 strains of isoniazid-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis was 13.51%(20/148),among which the inhA gene mutation rate among patients of Han,Uygur,and Kazakh ethnicity were 15.87%,13.21%,and 17.65%,respectively.There was no significant difference in the inhA mutation rate among nationalities(c^(2)=2.897,P>0.05).The mutation rate of the katG gene was 84.46%(125/148),among which the mutation rates of patients of Han,Uyghur,and Kazak ethnicities were 82.54%,84.91%,and 76.47%,respectively.The Hui and other ethnic groups were all affected by the katG gene mutation.There was no significant difference in the mutation rate of the katG gene among different ethnicities(c^(2)=3.772,P>0.05).The mutation rates of the inhA gene in southern Xinjiang,northern Xinjiang,and other provinces were 18.60%,9.28%,and 37.50%,respectively.The mutation rates of the inhA gene in different regions were statistically different(c^(2)=6.381,P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the inhA mutation rate between patients from southern and northern Xinjiang(c^(2)=2.214,P>0.05)and between southern Xinjiang and other provinces(c^(2)=1.424,P>0.05).However,the mutation rate of the inhA gene in patients from other provinces was higher than that in northern Xinjiang(c^(2)=5.539,P<0.05).The mutation rates of the katG gene in southern Xinjiang,northern Xinjiang,and other provinces were 81.40%,87.63%,and 62.50%,respectively.There was no significant difference in the mutation rates of the katG gene among different regions(c^(2)=3.989,P>0.05).Conclusion:katG gene mutation was predominant in isoniazid-resistant tuberculosis patients in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,and inhA and katG gene mutation were no different among different ethnic groups.

Prevalence of Myocilin Gene Mutation in Adult-Onset Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Non-Glaucoma Subjects Who Are Indigenes of Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness incapacitating over 80 million people worldwide. Several pathogenetic mechanisms have been postulated to explain the optic nerve damage that occur in POAG among which genetic predisposition is prominent. Gene-Linkage-based studies have identified genes associated with POAG: Myocilin, Optineurin, WDR36, Tank-Binding Kinase (TBK1) and APbb-2. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of myocilin gene mutation in adult-onset POAG patients and non-glaucoma subjects who are indigenes of Rivers State. Methodology: In this comparative cross-sectional study, 393 POAG patients attending the Glaucoma Clinic of UPTH were compared with 393 age and sex-matched phenotypically normal participants. Clinical assessment combined with findings from clinical records was used. Venous blood was obtained for genomic analyses. Extracted DNA was sequenced with specific primers for myocilin and polymerase chain reaction. Zymo-Bead Genomic DNA kit protocol was used to detect allelic differences. Results: Total of 786 participants participated in the study. The mean age was 59.8 ± 11.8 years. The prevalence of myocilin gene mutation (MYOC) in the study population was 5.3%, in the POAG group was 8.4%, and 2.3% in the non-glaucoma group. This observed difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Location of the mutant myocilin gene was in GLC1A 171638779, 171638703, 171638610 and 171638608. Conclusion: Mutations in myocilin gene are associated with adult-onset POAG in Rivers State. Its relevance as a biomarker for diagnosis of adult-onset POAG needs further investigations.

Comprehensive analysis of gene mutations and mismatch repair in Chinese colorectal cancer patients

BACKGROUND RAS,BRAF,and mismatch repair(MMR)/microsatellite instability(MSI)are crucial biomarkers recommended by clinical practice guidelines for colorectal cancer(CRC).However,their characteristics and influencing factors in Chinese patients have not been thoroughly described.AIM To analyze the clinicopathological features of KRAS,NRAS,BRAF,and PIK3CA mutations and the DNA MMR status in CRC.METHODS We enrolled 2271 Chinese CRC patients at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital.MMR proteins were tested using immunohistochemical analysis,and the KRAS/NRAS/BRAF/PIK3CA mutations were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Microsatellite status was determined using an MSI detection kit.Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software and logistic regression.RESULTS The KRAS,NRAS,BRAF,and PIK3CA mutations were detected in 44.6%,3.4%,3.7%,and 3.9% of CRC patients,respectively.KRAS mutations were more likely to occur in patients with moderate-to-high differentiation.BRAF mutations were more likely to occur in patients with right-sided CRC,poorly differentiated,or no perineural invasion.Deficient MMR(dMMR)was detected in 7.9% of all patients and 16.8% of those with mucinous adenocarcinomas.KRAS,NRAS,BRAF,and PIK3CA mutations were detected in 29.6%,1.1%,8.1%,and 22.3% of patients with dMMR,respectively.The dMMR was more likely to occur in patients with a family history of CRC,aged<50 years,right-sided CRC,poorly differentiated histology,no perineural invasion,and with carcinoma in situ,stage I,or stage II tumors.CONCLUSION This study analyzed the molecular profiles of KRAS,NRAS,BRAF,PIK3CA,and MMR/MSI in CRC,identifying key influencing factors,with implications for clinical management of CRC.

Detection of LAMA2 c.715C>G:p.R239G mutation in a newborn with raised creatine kinase: A case report

BACKGROUND We report a rare case of primary clinical presentation featuring elevated creatine kinase(CK)levels in a neonate,which is associated with the LAMA2 gene.In this case,a heterozygous mutation in exon5 of the LAMA2 gene,c.715C>G(resulting in a change of nucleotide number 715 in the coding region from cytosine to gua-nine),induced an amino acid alteration p.R239G(No.239)in the patient,repre-senting a missense mutation.This observation may be elucidated by the neonatal creatine monitoring mechanism,a phenomenon not previously reported.CASE SUMMARY We analysed the case of a neonate presenting solely with elevated CK levels who was eventually discharged after supportive treatment.The chief complaint was identification of increased CK levels for 15 d and higher CK values for 1 d.Ad-mission occurred at 18 d of age,and despite prolonged treatment with creatine and vitamin C,the elevated CK levels showed limited improvement.Whole exo-me sequencing revealed the presence of a c.715C>G mutation in LAMA2 in the newborn,correlating with a clinical phenotype.However,the available informa-tion offers insufficient evidence for clinical pathogenicity.CONCLUSION Mutations in LAMA2 are associated with the clinical phenotype of increased neonatal CK levels,for which no specific treatment exists.Whole genome sequen-cing facilitates early diagnosis.

Assessment of pathogenicity and functional characterization of APPL1 gene mutations in diabetic patients

BACKGROUND Adaptor protein,phosphotyrosine interacting with PH domain and leucine zipper 1(APPL1)plays a crucial role in regulating insulin signaling and glucose metabolism.Mutations in the APPL1 gene have been associated with the development of maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 14(MODY14).Currently,only two mutations[c.1655T>A(p.Leu552*)and c.281G>A p.(Asp94Asn)]have been identified in association with this disease.Given the limited understanding of MODY14,it is imperative to identify additional cases and carry out comprehensive research on MODY14 and APPL1 mutations.AIM To assess the pathogenicity of APPL1 gene mutations in diabetic patients and to characterize the functional role of the APPL1 domain.METHODS Patients exhibiting clinical signs and a medical history suggestive of MODY were screened for the study.Whole exome sequencing was performed on the patients as well as their family members.The pathogenicity of the identified APPL1 variants was predicted on the basis of bioinformatics analysis.In addition,the pathogenicity of the novel APPL1 variant was preliminarily evaluated through in vitro functional experiments.Finally,the impact of these variants on APPL1 protein expression and the insulin pathway were assessed,and the potential mechanism underlying the interaction between the APPL1 protein and the insulin receptor was further explored.RESULTS A total of five novel mutations were identified,including four missense mutations(Asp632Tyr,Arg633His,Arg532Gln,and Ile642Met)and one intronic mutation(1153-16A>T).Pathogenicity prediction analysis revealed that the Arg532Gln was pathogenic across all predictions.The Asp632Tyr and Arg633His variants also had pathogenicity based on MutationTaster.In addition,multiple alignment of amino acid sequences showed that the Arg532Gln,Asp632Tyr,and Arg633His variants were conserved across different species.Moreover,in in vitro functional experiments,both the c.1894G>T(at Asp632Tyr)and c.1595G>A(at Arg532Gln)mutations were found to downregulate the expression of APPL1 on both protein and mRNA levels,indicating their pathogenic nature.Therefore,based on the patient’s clinical and family history,combined with the results from bioinformatics analysis and functional experiment,the c.1894G>T(at Asp632Tyr)and c.1595G>A(at Arg532Gln)mutations were classified as pathogenic mutations.Importantly,all these mutations were located within the phosphotyrosinebinding domain of APPL1,which plays a critical role in the insulin sensitization effect.CONCLUSION This study provided new insights into the pathogenicity of APPL1 gene mutations in diabetes and revealed a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Mutational landscape of TP53 and CDH1 in gastric cancer

In this editorial we comment on an article published in a recent issue of the World J Gastrointest Surg.A common gene mutation in gastric cancer(GC)is the TP53 mutation.As a tumor suppressor gene,TP53 is implicated in more than half of all tumor occurrences.TP53 gene mutations in GC tissue may be related with clinical pathological aspects.The TP53 mutation arose late in the progression of GC and aided in the final switch to malignancy.CDH1 encodes E-cadherin,which is involved in cell-to-cell adhesion,epithelial structure maintenance,cell polarity,differentiation,and intracellular signaling pathway modulation.CDH1 mutations and functional loss can result in diffuse GC,and CDH1 mutations can serve as independent prognostic indicators for poor prognosis.GC patients can benefit from genetic counseling and testing for CDH1 mutations.Demethylation therapy may assist to postpone the onset and progression of GC.The investigation of TP53 and CDH1 gene mutations in GC allows for the investigation of the relationship between these two gene mutations,as well as providing some basis for evaluating the prognosis of GC patients.

Detection of a novel panel of 24 genes with high frequencies of mutation in gastric cancer based on next-generation sequencing

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.Many somatic mutations have been identified based on next-generation sequencing;they likely play a vital role in cancer treatment selection.However,nextgeneration sequencing has not been widely used to diagnose and treat gastric cancer in the clinic.AIM To test the mutant gene frequency as a guide for molecular diagnosis and personalized therapy in gastric cancer by use of next-generation sequencing.METHODS We constructed a panel of 24 mutant genes to detect somatic nucleotide variations and copy number variations based on a next-generation sequencing technique.Our custom panel included high-mutation frequency cancer driver and tumour suppressor genes.Mutated genes were also analyzed using the cBioPortal database.The clinical annotation of important variant mutation sites was evaluated in the ClinVar database.We searched for candidate drugs for targeted therapy and immunotherapy from the OncoKB database.RESULTS In our study,the top 16 frequently mutated genes were TP53(58%),ERBB2(28%),BRCA2(23%),NF1(19%),PIK3CA(14%),ATR(14%),MSH2(12%),FBXW7(12%),BMPR1A(12%),ERBB3(11%),ATM(9%),FGFR2(8%),MET(8%),PTEN(6%),CHD4(6%),and KRAS(5%).TP53 is a commonly mutated gene in gastric cancer and has a similar frequency to that in the cBioPortal database.33 gastric cancer patients(51.6%)with microsatellite stability and eight patients(12.5%)with microsatellite instability-high were investigated.Enrichment analyses demonstrated that high-frequency mutated genes had transmembrane receptor protein kinase activity.We discovered that BRCA2,PIK3CA,and FGFR2 gene mutations represent promising biomarkers in gastric cancer.CONCLUSION We developed a powerful panel of 24 genes with high frequencies of mutation that could detect common somatic mutations.The observed mutations provide potential targets for the clinical treatment of gastric cancer.

Screening of Genes with Unique Mutations of Microcus

Yersinia pestis is the causative agent of bubonic and pneumonic plagues. Strains of Y. pestis are classified into four biovars： antiqua, mediaevalis, orientalis, and microtus[11. There are two microtus-related plague loci in China： the Microtus brandti plague focus in the Xilin Gol Grassland （focus L） and the Microtus fuscus plague focus in the Ojnghai-Tibet Plateau （focus M）.

Co-existing squamous cell carcinoma and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia with ASXL1 and EZH2 gene mutations:A case report

BACKGROUND Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia(CMML),a rare clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder characterized by myelodysplastic syndrome and myeloproliferative neoplasms,has a generally poor prognosis,and easily progresses to acute myeloid leukemia.The simultaneous incidence of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors is extremely low,and CMML coinciding with lung malignancies is even rarer.Here,we report a case of CMML,with ASXL1 and EZH2 gene mutations,combined with non-small cell lung cancer(lung squamous cell carcinoma).CASE SUMMARY A 63-year-old male,suffering from toothache accompanied by coughing,sputum,and bloody sputum for three months,was given a blood test after experiencing continuous bleeding resulting from a tooth extraction at a local hospital.Based on morphological results,the patient was diagnosed with CMML and bronchoscopy was performed in situ to confirm the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma in the lower lobe of the lung.After receiving azacitidine,programmed cell death protein 1,and platinum-based chemotherapy drugs,the patient developed severe myelosuppression and eventually fatal leukocyte stasis and dyspnea.CONCLUSION During the treatment and observation of CMML and be vigilant of the growth of multiple primary malignant tumors.

Clinical manifestations of adult hereditary spherocytosis with novel SPTB gene mutations and hyperjaundice:A case report

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to enhance understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of atypical hereditary spherocytosis(HS),and to broaden the diagnostic thoughts of physicians for patients with jaundice.CASE SUMMARY A 28-year-old male presented with jaundice,bile duct stone,and splenomegaly,but without anemia.Other causes of jaundice were excluded,and gene se-quencing revealed a novel heterozygous variant of c.1801C>T(p.Q601X)in exon 14 of the SPTB(NM_01355436)gene on chromosome 14(chr14:65260580)in the patient’s blood;the biological parents and child of the patient did not have similar variants.A splenectomy was performed on the patient and his bilirubin levels returned to normal after surgery.Thus,a novel gene variant causing HS was identified.This variant may result in the truncation ofβ-hemoglobin in the erythrocyte membrane,leading to loss of normal function,jaundice,and hemolytic anemia.The clinical manifestations of the patient were hyperjaundice and an absence of typical hemolysis during the course of the disease,which caused challenges for diagnosis by the clinicians.CONCLUSION Following a definitive diagnosis,genetic testing and response to treatment identified a gene variant site for a novel hemolytic anemia.

Study of pathogenic genes in a pedigree with familial dilated cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND Dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM)is a genetically heterogeneous cardiac disorder characterized by left ventricular dilation and contractile dysfunction.The substantial genetic heterogeneity evident in patients with DCM contributes to variable disease severity and complicates overall prognosis,which can be very poor.AIM To identify pathogenic genes in DCM through pedigree analysis.METHODS Our research team identified a patient with DCM in the clinic.Through invest-igation,we found that the family of this patient has a typical DCM pedigree.High-throughput sequencing technology,next-generation sequencing,was used to sequence the whole exomes of seven samples in the pedigree.RESULTS A novel and potentially pathogenic gene mutation-ANK2p.F3067L-was discovered.The mutation was completely consistent with the clinical information for this DCM pedigree.Sanger sequencing was used to further verify the locus of the mutation in pedigree samples.These results were consistent with those of high-throughput sequencing.CONCLUSIONS ANK2p.F3067L is considered a novel and potentially pathogenic gene mutation in DCM.

Novel gene mutation in maturity-onset diabetes of the young:A case report

BACKGROUND Maturity-onset diabetes of the young(MODY)is the most common monogenic type of diabetes.Recently,14 gene mutations have been found to be associated with MODY.In addition,the KLF11 gene mutation is the pathogenic gene of MODY7.To date,the clinical and functional characteristics of the novel KLF11mutation c.G31A have not yet been reported.CASE SUMMARY We report of a 30-year-old male patient with a one-year history of nonketosisprone diabetes and a 3-generation family history of diabetes.The patient was found to carry a KLF11 gene mutation.Therefore,the clinical data of family members were collected and investigated.A total of four members of the family were found to have heterozygous mutations in the KLF11 gene c.G31A,which resulted in a change in the corresponding amino acid p.D11N.Three patients had diabetes mellitus,and one patient had impaired glucose tolerance.CONCLUSION The heterozygous mutation of the KLF11 gene c.G31A(p.D11N)is a new mutation site of MODY7.Subsequently,the main treatment included dietary interventions and oral drugs.

ADAMTS3 and FLT4 gene mutations result in congenital lymphangiectasia in newborns:A case report

BACKGROUND Congenital lymphangiectasia is a rare disease characterized by dilated interstitial lymphatic vessels and cystic expansion of the lymphatic vessels.Congenital lymphangiectasia can affect various organ systems;however,it frequently occurs in the lungs accompanied with unexplained pleural effusion.Further,it might not be diagnosed during prenatal examination owing to the absence of pronounced abnormalities.However,after birth the newborn rapidly develops respiratory distress that quickly deteriorates.Genetic variations in proteins controlling the development of lymphatic vessels contribute to the pathophysiology of this disease.We report a rare case of heterozygous mutation of ADAMTS3 and FLT4 genes,which have not been reported previously.CASE SUMMARY We analysed the case of a neonate who had presented with only pleural effusion at a late gestational age and eventually died due to its inability to establish spontaneous breathing after birth.An autopsy revealed lymphangiectasia of the organ systems.Further,whole exome sequencing revealed heterozygous mutations of the lymphangiogenesis-controlling genes,ADAMTS3 and FLT4,and Sanger verification revealed similar lesions in the mother with no symptoms.CONCLUSION Considering the presented case,obstetricians should observe unexplained foetal pleural effusion,and perform pathology analysis and whole exome sequencing for a conclusive diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Analysis of EGFR gene mutations in lung adenocarcinoma in Karamay,Xinjiang,China

Background:To investigate the mutation types and mutation rate of the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)gene in patients with lung adenocarcinoma and the clinical features of lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR gene mutations in Karamay,Xinjiang,China.Methods:Paraffin-embedded tissue samples of adenocarcinoma patients were collected in the Karamay Central Hospital from March 2016 to June 2019,and mutations in exon 18–21 of the EGFR gene were detected by the allele-specific amplification polymerase chain reaction(Amplification RefractoryMutation System–PCR)method.The relationships between themutation types,mutation incidence,and clinical features were analyzed.Results:Of the 170 patients with lung adenocarcinoma,83 had EGFR mutations.The total mutation rate of EGFR in patients with lung adenocarcinoma was 48.8%,which included mutations in exons 18(1.2%[2/170]),19(19.4%[33/170]),20(2.4%[4/170]),and 21(20.6%[35/170]).Intriguingly,there was a case with 9 mutations in exons 20 and 21.The mutations in exon 19 of EGFR resulted in the deletion of codons 746 to 750.The main mutation in exon 21 was L858R(91.4%[32/35]).There was no significant difference in exons 19 and 21 mutation rates(P>0.05).The mutation rate of EGFR in female patients was significantly higher than that in male patients(P<0.05)but had no correlation with the age,smoking status,and clinical stage of patients with non–small cell lung cancer(P>0.05).The EGFR mutation rate may be related to the degree of tumor differentiation.Conclusions:Among patients with lung adenocarcinoma in Kelamayi(city in Xinjiang),EGFR mutations were more frequently detected in female patients,and the main sites of mutations were exons 19 and 21.

Computed tomography radiogenomics:A potential tool for prediction of molecular subtypes in gastric stromal tumor

BACKGROUND Preoperative knowledge of mutational status of gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs)is essential to guide the individualized precision therapy.AIM To develop a combined model that integrates clinical and contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CE-CT)features to predict gastric GISTs with specific genetic mutations,namely KIT exon 11 mutations or KIT exon 11 codons 557-558 deletions.METHODS A total of 231 GIST patients with definitive genetic phenotypes were divided into a training dataset and a validation dataset in a 7:3 ratio.The models were constructed using selected clinical features,conventional CT features,and radiomics features extracted from abdominal CE-CT images.Three models were developed:ModelCT sign,modelCT sign+rad,and model CTsign+rad+clinic.The diagnostic performance of these models was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis and the Delong test.RESULTS The ROC analyses revealed that in the training cohort,the area under the curve(AUC)values for model_(CT sign),model_(CT sign+rad),and modelCT_(sign+rad+clinic)for predicting KIT exon 11 mutation were 0.743,0.818,and 0.915,respectively.In the validation cohort,the AUC values for the same models were 0.670,0.781,and 0.811,respectively.For predicting KIT exon 11 codons 557-558 deletions,the AUC values in the training cohort were 0.667,0.842,and 0.720 for model_(CT sign),model_(CT sign+rad),and modelCT_(sign+rad+clinic),respectively.In the validation cohort,the AUC values for the same models were 0.610,0.782,and 0.795,respectively.Based on the decision curve analysis,it was determined that the model_(CT sign+rad+clinic)had clinical significance and utility.CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate that the combined modelCT_(sign+rad+clinic)effectively distinguishes GISTs with KIT exon 11 mutation and KIT exon 11 codons 557-558 deletions.This combined model has the potential to be valuable in assessing the genotype of GISTs.

Synchronous gastric and colon cancers:Important to consider hereditary syndromes and chronic inflammatory disease associations

In this editorial we comment on the manuscript,describing management and surveillance strategies in synchronous and metachronous,gastric and colon cancers.Synchronous or metachronous primary malignancies at different sites of the gastrointestinal tract pose a unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.Multidisciplinary services and strategies are required for the management of multiple site primary malignancies,to provide the best oncological outcomes.Although this study highlights the dual cancers in 76 sporadic cases,the authors excluded 55 patients due to combination of factors which includes;incomplete clinical data,genetic syndrome,gastric stump cancers.In addition,the authors did not elaborate if any patients presented with signet ring cell morphology,E-cadherin mutations or presence of inflammatory bowel disease.Genetic and mutational errors and epithelial field defects from chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are important when considering synchronous gastric and colonic cancers.We will briefly discuss these in this editorial.

The Investigation into Intrinsic Elements Influencing the Onset of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a highly heterogeneous malignancy with a complex pathogenesis, involving a series of endogenous alterations such as genetic mutations, epigenetic modifications, and oxidative stress. Recent advancements in lung cancer research, especially at the genomic and molecular biology levels, have continuously provided new potential targets and perspectives for the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. Therefore, this article summarizes the recent progress in the study of endogenous factors related to the pathogenesis of lung cancer, aiming to enhance the understanding of intrinsic factors in lung cancer and to organize ideas for subsequent related research.

Study on Mutations in ALS for Resistance to Tribenuron-Methyl in Galium aparine L.

In recent years, Galium aparine L. has not been controlled by tribenuron-methyl in major Chinese winter wheat fields. The objective of this study is to understand the molecular basis of the resistance mechanism to tribenuron-methyl in G. aparine and to find the specific mutation sites in amino acid sequence of acetolactate synthase （ALS） in the resistant biotype of G. aparine. Fragments that encode the ALS were amplified and cloned from susceptible （S） and resistant （R） biotypes of G. aparine to tribenuron-methyl and sequenced subsequently. The result showed that the nucleotide sequence of Rbiotype of G. aparine differed from that of the S biotype with three amino acid substitutions, of which, the amino acid substitution of Trp57-4 （TGG） to Gly （GGG） is located in the highly conserved region Domain B. The substitution of Trp574 might be responsible for the resistance to tribenuron-methyl in the R-biotype of G. aparine.

Relations of Budd-Chiari syndrome to prothrombin gene mutation

BACKGROUND: Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a type of disease characterized by portal hypertension and/or hy- pertension of the inferior vena cava (IVC) due to the ob- struction of the hepatic veins (HV) and/or intrahepatic IVC outlet. Being etiologically complicated and obscure, BCS can be acquired or idiopathic and several gene muta- tions may be contributable. This study was to explore whether prothrombin gene mutation (F G20210A) takes part in the pathogenesis of BCS and to investigate their cor- relativity. METHODS: In 38 proven BCS patients and 70 controls, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length poly- morphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to find F G20210A mutation. To detect whether there are any mutations, four steps were taken: purification of genome DNA from whole blood, amplification of special fragment by polymerase chain reaction, digestion of the fragment via restriction en- donuclease, and analysis of results by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: F G20210A mutation was not detected in all patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: No F G20210A mutation exists in Chi- nese patients with BCS, nor correlativity between the oc- currence of BCS and F G20210A mutation. The etiology of BCS in the Chinese needs further investigation.