A Review The elastin has been investigated since the 1950 s, and it has been found that elastin relates to the vascular diseases in recent years. In this review, the elastin gene structure, distribution and its role in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases and aging are summarized.

Objectives To investigate fluoride in drinking waters and fluorosis status and evaluate the effectiveness of fluoride-reducing projects in Shaanxi Province from 2005 to 2007. Methods In the Shaanxi province-wide, the 10 endemic areas of fluorosis were chosen according to historical data as focusing areas for investigation. The village was considered as investigation spot, 5 water samples were collected from each village for investigating of fluoride content. Four water samples were collected from each fluoride-reducing project for evaluating its effectiveness. Fluoride concentrations in drinking water were measured by fluoride-selective electrode method or speetrophotometry. When fluoride content in drinking water was greater than 1.00 mg/L, the epidemical study wasd conducted to investigate fluorosis patients, focusing on investigating of dental fluorosis prevalence in 8 to 12-year-old children and skeletal fluorosis prevalence in adults. Dental fluorosis of children was diagnosed by using Dean's method, and adult skeletal fluorosis was diagnosed according to National Standard for Clinical Diagnosis of Endemic Skeletal Fiuorosis(GB 16396-1996). Results The fluoride content in drinking water from 6390 villages was measured. The fluoride content of drinking water of 2619 villages ranged from 1.0 to<2.0 mg/L, where 1 654 998 people exposed. Additionally, the fluoride content of water of 845 villages ranged from 2.0 to<4.0 mg/L, where 355 623 people exposed. Moreover, the fluoride contents of water of 272 villages exceeded 4.0 mg/L, where 111 466 people exposed. The median of fluoride content in drinking water was 1.15% in the whole province, and fluoride content in drinking water exceeded 1.00 mg/L in Weinan, Xianyang and Yulin where were concentrated distribution areas of high fluoride water. Among 3115 fluoride-reducing projects, the fluoride content of drinking water of 1269 projects ranged from 1.0 to<2.0 mg/L, where 1 415 877 people exposed. Additionally, the fluoride content of drinking water of 120 projects ranged from 2.0 to<4.0 mg/L, where 43 888 people exposed. Moreover, the fluoride content of drinking water of 14 projects exceeded 4.0 mg/L, where 5960 people exposed. The detectable rate of dental fluorosis of 8 to 12 year-old children and skeletal fluorosis of adults reached 37.4%(16 489/44 081) and 5.1%(15 877/310 993), respectively. Conclusions The widely distribution of high-fluoride in drinking water still contributes to the prevalence of fluorosis in Shaanxi Province. The quality of fluoride-reducing projects should be further improved.

Objective: To establish the quatity standard of Sedum aizoon L..Methods: The micro-method and TLC were used for qualitative identification,and a HPLC analysis was applied for quantitative determination of quercetin.Results: A qualitative analysis for Sedum aizoon L.was set up,a good linear relationship was obtained over the range of 1.216-2.16?g/ml and regression equation was Y=40386X-14138(r=0.9991).The average recovery rate was 102.08%(RSD=0.92%).Conclusion: The method is simple,accurate and suitable for quality control of Sedum aizoon L.

Objective To deal with the inconvenience that doctors have to use current name but not trade name in writing the prescription after the institutional reform of medicine.Methods To meet the system requirement,the generating method of drug phoneticized code was altered in our hospital.Result The problem was solved by defining one item with multiple codes,i.e.one name with multiple codes or one code with multiple names.Conclusion With source program untouched,this method is simple and feasible in practical application.

Objective To research the removal of the low concentration of formaldehyde in the indoor air by using copper sulfate.Methods The low concentration of formaldehyde(10.0 mg/L)in the indoor air was determined by the way of MBTH spectrophotometry.The influence of pH,chelon and concentration on the removal of different concentration formaldehyde was investigated by the way of chemisorption.Results When pH was 11.99,12.86,13.08 and 13.42,using copper sulfate,the removal rate of 10.0 mg/L formaldehyde was 43.82%,62.75%,69.21% and 73.40% respectively.When the concentration of copper sulfate was at 3.0 g/L,5.0 g/L,7.0 g/L and 10.0 g/L,the removal rate was 51.43%,73.40%,66.36% and 62.18% respectively in the condition of pH=13.42.When used potassium sodium tartrate and EDTA as the ehelon,pH=13.42,concentration of copper sulfate was 5.0 g/L,the removal rate of 2.0 mg/L formaldehyde was 77.21% and 62.51% respectively,that of 10.0 mg/L formaldehyde was 86.54% and 73.40% respectively,that of 100.0mg/L formaldehyde was 96.71% and 91.32% respectively.Conclusion Using potassium sodium tartrate as the chelon,at pH=13.42,5.0 g/L copper sulfate can produce a good removal efficiency for indoor low level formaldehyde.

BACKGROUND: Changes of elastic fibers in middle cerebral artery(MCA)is close related withthe aged cerebrovascular disease.OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of elastic fibers of MCA in different aging rats.DESIGN: A descriptive and controlled study based on experimental animals.SETTING: Department of anatomy and central laboratory in a university.MATERIALS: Totally 36 healthy Wistar rats with either gender, weighing 200 - 280 g, were selected from the Animal Institute of the third medical military university of Chongqing[certification SCXX (army) 2002-007].INTERVENTIONS: Changes of elastic fibers of MCA of different aging rats were observed with light microscope, transmission electron microscope and image analysis system. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①) Major outcome: changes of elastic lamella in MCA of different aging rats; ②) Secondary outcome: ultramicrostructural changes of internal lamella under the transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: With the increase of age, the folded extent and quantity of internal elastic lamella were decreased, and the content of elastic fibers were also decreased significantly( P ＜ 0.01 ). However, the ratio of collagen fibers to elastic fibers was increased significantly( P ＜ 0.01 ) . In the aging group above 24 months, the internal elastic lamina thinned, delaminated and disrupted, and the lipid deposited in it. Endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells passed through the internal elastic lamina. CONCLUSION: Changes of elastic fibers may be related with the increased susceptibility to the cerebrovascular disease in aged people.

Objective To investigate the changes of interleukin(IL)-2 and interferon(IFN)-γin serum and synovial fluid of patients with joint injure with Kashin-Beck disease(KBD), and study the roles of IL-2 and IFN-γ in KBD joint injure. Methods In accordance with the "Diagnostic Criteria of Kashin-Beck disease"(GB16003-1995),48 cases of KBD patients and 26 healthy people(control group) from KBD endemic area in Long county Shaanxi province were enrolled in the study. KBD patient were 24 males and 24 females, respectively, aged 40 to 65 years (mean age 51 years). Forty-eight serum specimens and 28 synovial fluid specimens of patients(14 males and 14 females,respectively) were collected. Healthy control group were 13 males and 13 females, respectively. Twenty-six serum specimens of healthy controls were collected. Serum and synovial fluid IL-2 and IFN-γ levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results In healthy controls and KBD patients, the midian of serum IL-2 were 46.8 ng/L and 55.7 ng/L, respectively, and IFN-γ were 52.3 ng/L and 48.8 ng/L, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant between healthy controls and KBD patients(t = 0.62, 0.70, all P ＞ 0.05).In synovial fluid of KBD patient, the midian of IL-2 and IFN-γwere 48.3 ng/L and 44.1 ng/L, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant between serum and synovial fluid in KBD patients(t = 0.69, 1.72, all P ＞0.05). Conclusion Serum and synovial fluid IL-2 and IFN-γare not significantly increased in KBD patients with articular damage, indicating that IL-2 and IFN-γare not involved in KBD joint injury.

Objective To investigate the role of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on transforming growth factor - ?1 (TGF - ?1 )of asthmatic remodeling model Methods One hundred and eight guinea pigs were divided into 3 groups randomly and equally: asthmatic group( A), therapeutic group(B), control group(C) Three groups were treated by ovalbumin, budesonide, normal saline respectively The lung tissue specimens were collected after the guinea pigs were killed; the expression of TGF- ?1 was determined Results The expressions of TGF-?1 in A, K and C groups were(41 83 ? 10. 45) %, (27. 22 ? 8. 09)% , (15. 36 ? 2. 64)% respectively at 12 weeks. It was statistically significant( P

Objective To obtain a simple method to treat segmental vitiligo. Methods The grafting was carried out as following: the epidermal cellular suspension was obtained from leg skin by razor blade after trypsinization. The suspension of epidermal cells were injected into depigmented lesion blisters which were produced by freezing with nitrogen. Results All of the patients which received treatment had successful repigmentation. Conclusion This technique is an effective and simple method for treating patients with segmental vitiligo.

Aim To study the regulatory of Jiaweisini-san on expression of hippocampal BDNF, NR1 and dental gyrus ( DG ) neurogenesis in rats with chronic stressed-depression and its possible mechamisms. Methods Chronic unpredictable mild stress was used to establish the rat model of stressed depression. The expression of BrdU, NeuN, brain -derived neurotro-phic factor ( BDNF ) and N-methyl-D-aspartate recep-tor1 ( NR1 ) in hippocampal dental gyrus were detected by fluorescently labeled immunohistochemical method. In addition, BDNFmRNA was detected by in situ hy-bridization. Results Chronic stress could inhibit the proliferation of neural precursors in hippocampal DG ( P<0. 01 );the expression of BDNF decreased signifi-cantly in DG in model rats ( P <0. 01 ) , while the ex-pression of NR1 increased significantly ( P <0. 01 ) . JWSNS and Fluoxetine hydrochloride significantly en-hanced the amount of new proliferating cells and the number of neurons in unit area of DG ( P<0. 01 ) , in-creased the expression of BDNF ( P <0. 01 ) and de-creased the expression of NR1 in DG(P<0. 01). Con-clusion JWSNS could promote the neuronal prolifera-tion in hippocampal DG of rat with chronic stressed-de-pression,and may exert an effect of promoting the pro-liferation of neurons in hippocampal DG by enhancing the expression of BDNF and decreasing the expression of NR1 .