Efficiency evaluation of common forensic genetic markers for parentage identification involving close relatives

To explore the efficacy of commonly used forensic identification panels in complex paternity testing of trios that involved close relatives, we wrote a code by R to generate 10,000 pedigrees at 20 CODIS STR, 21 non-CODIS STR and 30 InDel loci in Chinese five ethnic groups based on their allele frequencies. Parentage identification index--cumulative paternity index (CPI) value was set as output and was further analyzed to evaluate the performance of the aforementioned panels in complex paternity testing when the alleged parent is a random individual, biological parent, grandparent, sibling of biological parent, half-sibling of biological parent, etc. The results showed that the false inclusion of parent sibling posed as parent demonstrated no statistically significant difference from that of grandparent posed as parent. The scenarios where both biological parent and alleged parent were consanguineous to the other parent were also simulated. The results revealed that the complexity of paternity testing would raise when biological parents were consanguineous and the alleged parent was a close relative of theirs. Despite the values of non-conformity number could vary in different genetic relationships, populations and panels, 20 CODIS STRs and 21 non-CODIS STRs performed satisfactorily in most simulated scenarios. However, the joint use of 20 CODIS STRs and 21 non-CODIS STRs is more recommendable when resolving the paternity testing of the incest mating case. Overall, the current study could be regarded as a worthwhile reference in complex paternity testing of trios that involved close relatives.

DNA Molecular Identification of Human Phenotypic Characteristics--New Progress Over the Past Five Years

Abstract

Molecular identification of human externally visible characteristic （EVC）, which is also called forensic DNA phenotyping （FDP）, can serve as a "molecular witness" when the routine investigations can not determine the identity of a criminal and the DNA database find no match after comparison. FDP could assist in investigation of cases by inferring the externally visible phenotypic characteristics from DNA obtained from the biological materials left at crime scenes, or unknown corpses. In the last few years, studies on the selection of EVC related molecular markers have been reported frequently and some of the EVCs could already be inferred with a certain accuracy, such as hair color and iris color. Further fundamental research on molecular genetics of human external phenotypic characteristics, as well as the continuous innovation on molecular biological technology would promote the rapid development of DNA molecular identification of human phenotypic characteristics.

[Prognostic significance of proteins expression by immunohistochemical method in diffuse large B cell lymphoma]

Objective: To analyze the prognostic significance of TP53, Bcl-2, Bcl-6, Myc proteins expression by immunohistochemical method (IHC) in diffuse large B cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) . Methods: Clinical and pathologic data of 223 patients with DLBCL hospitalized in Zhejiang First Hospital from March 2009 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The 223 cases, a median age of 56 years old with a male predominance, had shown a 39.0% of TP53 positive expression, 38.6% of Myc, 69.1% of Bcl-2, 56.5% of Bcl-6, and 22.7% of Myc/Bcl-2 double expression. According to Hans' classification, 27.4% were GCB and 72.6% were non-GCB. With a median follow-up of 38 (2-97) months, the 3 and 5 years survival rates were 70% and 66% , respectively. By multivariate analysis, TP53 over-expression and Myc/Bcl-2 double expression were independently associated with poor outcomes. 3-year and 5-year overall survival were 59% and 57% for patients with TP53 positive, 77% and 71% for patients with TP53 negative expression. Patients with non-GCB subtype receiving chemotherapy combined with rituximab had a higher OS than those without rituximab. But rituximab did not improve the prognosis of patients with TP53 positive. Conclusion: Myc/Bcl-2 double expression and TP53 over-expression are poor prognosis for DLBCL patients. Patients with Myc/Bcl-2 double expression have shorter OS. Patients with non-GCB subtype who received chemotherapy combined with rituximab have a better OS than those without rituximab. But rituximab does not improve the prognosis of patients with TP53 positive.

[Expression characteristics and prognosis significance of miRNA-181a in acute myeloid leukemia with normal karyotype]

目的

探讨核型正常急性髓系白血病（CN-AML）患者微RNA（miRNA）-181a的表达水平及其与预后的关系。

方法

采用实时荧光定量PCR法检测120例初诊原发CN-AML患者骨髓单个核细胞miRNA-181a的表达水平，PCR后采用直接测序方法检测IDH1、IDH2、NPM1、FLT3-ITD、DNMT3A和CEBPα突变。分析miRNA-181a表达与基因突变、其他临床指标和预后的关系。

结果

miRNA-181a高表达组和低表达组患者中位总生存（OS）时间分别为25.0和15.0个月（P<0.05）；中位无复发生存（RFS）时间分别为21.4和11.2个月（P<0.001）。miRNA-181a高表达组患者HGB水平、完全缓解率、NPM1野生型比例均较低表达组高，差异有统计学意义（P值均<0.05）；用Cox回归模型多因素分析显示，miRNA-181a高表达是影响CN-AML患者预后的独立因素（HR=2.219，95%CI 1.601~2.432，P=0.018）。

结论

miRNA-181a高表达是独立于临床指标和高频基因突变的预后良好的标志物，miRNA-181a表达水平可作为CN-AML预后的重要指标。

[Genetic Polymorphisms of 30 InDel Loci in Ewenki Ethnic Group from Inner Mongolia]

OBJECTIVES

To study the genetic polymorphisms of 30 insertion/deletion （InDel） loci and evaluate their forensic application in Ewenki ethnic group from Inner Mongolia.

METHODS

Peripheral blood samples were collected from 87 unrelated healthy individuals in Ewenki ethnic group. Genomic DNA were extracted, and 30 InDel loci of the samples were multiplex amplified and genotyped. Hardy-Weinberg balance tests were preformed for all loci and genetic parameters were calculated by modified PowerStats v1.2 software. The linkage disequilibrium between loci were tested by SNPAnalyzer v2.0 software. Based on the allele frequencies of 30 InDel loci, the genetic relationships between Ewenki ethnic group and other populations were evaluated by analysis of molecular variance, principal component analysis and phylogenetic reconstruction.

RESULTS

After correction, 30 InDel loci conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. It was found that the pairwise InDel loci were in linkage equilibrium after Bonferroni correction. The results of population genetics indicated that Ewenki ethnic group had close genetic relationships with Henan Han and Beijing Han populations; whereas it was significantly different from several populations in Europe and Mexico.

CONCLUSIONS

There are relatively high genetic polymorphisms on 30 InDel loci of Ewenki ethnic group from Inner Mongolia, which can be used as a helpful supplement application for STR detection system.

[Efficacy and safety analysis of different dose idarubicin plus cytarabine regimen as induction chemotherapy for young patients with de-novo acute myeloid leukemia]

目的

探讨不同剂量去甲氧柔红霉素（IDA）联合阿糖胞苷诱导方案（IA）治疗年轻初发急性髓系白血病（AML）（除外急性早幼粒细胞白血病）的临床疗效、安全性和长期预后。

方法

回顾性分析2009年1月至2014年7月收治的采用IA方案治疗的149例<55岁初发AML患者临床资料，根据IDA剂量分为高标准剂量组（10~12 mg·m⁻²·d⁻¹）、低标准剂量组（8~9 mg·m⁻²·d⁻¹）和低剂量组（<8 mg·m⁻²·d⁻¹），比较各组患者的化疗反应、血液学及非血液学不良事件，并分析预后。

结果

高标准剂量组34例，低标准剂量组53例，低剂量组62例。三组第1个疗程完全缓解（CR）率分别为79.4%、75.5％和46.8%，第1个疗程有效率分别为97.1%、94.3％和64.5%，总CR率分别为85.3%、81.1％和54.8%，高标准剂量组、低标准剂量组均显著高于低剂量组（P值均<0.05），前两者间差异无统计学意义（P值均>0.05）。多因素分析证实标准IDA剂量的确在诱导缓解疗效上优于低剂量（P<0.05）。在不良反应方面，化疗期间WBC最低值三组间差异有统计学意义（P=0.002），其余差异均无统计学意义。低标准剂量组在总生存（OS）上显著优于低剂量组（P=0.030），高标准剂量组与低剂量组相比，OS也有改善的趋势（P=0.054）。三组间在无事件生存、无复发生存差异均无统计学意义（P值均>0.05）。

结论

对于年轻（<55岁）初发AML患者，标准剂量IA方案可显著提高CR率，且患者的耐受性良好。标准剂量IA方案在一定程度上能改善年轻（<55岁）AML患者OS。