Aim To investigate the intraspecific variation of Carthamus tinctorius L. (safflower) and establish foundation for further breeding of safflower germplasm resource and screening the quality correlation genes. Methods Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was carried out to analyze genetic variation of 28 safflower populations collected in China. Unweighed pair-group method of with arithmetical averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis was used to construct a dendrogram and to estimate the genetic distances among the populations. Results All populations could be uniquely distinguished using 12 selected primer combinations. Similarity coefficients ranged from 0. 48 to 0. 96 among the populations.Dendrogram revealed distinct segregation of all the cultivars into three main groups and one midst group.Conclusion Limited genetic diversity exists within the tested 28 collections at intra specific level and AFLP-based phylogeny was not absolutely consistent with that based on morphological characters may be due to the interaction effect between genotype and environment.

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanisms of sulindac, a non-selective cyclooxygenase(COX)inhibitor, on the proliferation and apoptosis of colorectal cancer cell line HT-29.Methods HT-29 cells were treated with sulindac. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to measure the proliferation and apoptosis respectively. The laser scanning microscope(LSM)and the fluorescence microscope were used to observe apoptosis of the cells, and the flow cytometry (FCM)analysis was used to observe the cell apoptosis and cell cycle. Results Sulindac inhibited the cells proliferation and induced apoptosis in a dose-and time-dependent manner. With the TUNEL staining and fluorescence microscope, we found that the apoptosis cell became brown. After the Annexin V/PI staining, we observed that the membrane of apoptosis cells became green with LSM; the nucleosidase became red or crocus. FCM showed that sulindac promoted apoptosis of the cells, made the stage of G0/G1 ceils significantly reduced. Conclusions Our results showed that sulindac may inhibit the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of colon cancer cell HT-29,and the mechanism may probably be related to cell cycle arrest.

BACKGROUND:Wear particles-induced osteoblasts apoptosis in vitro has been documented in many studies. However, the apoptosis of osteoblasts in osteolytic bone tissue and the selective mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of osteolysis have been studied rarely.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the influence of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress on the apoptosis of osteoblasts in osteolytic bone tissue and osteolysis progression.
METHODS:The mouse model of osteolysis was induced with wear particles placed onto the calvaria. The experiment was divided into four groups:blank control group (PBS stimulation);wear particle group (nano-al oy powder suspension stimulation);ER stress positive control group (nano-al oy powder+thapsin stimulation);and ER stress inhibitor group (nano-al oy powder+sodium 4-phenylbutyrate stimulation). The histopathologic change of osteolysis was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin, toluidine blue and alkaline phosphatase staining. Osteoblast proliferation and differentiation in osteolytic craniums were measured. The expression of ER stress markers in osteolytic craniums was examined by western blot analysis. Osteoblast apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL staining and immunohistochemistry of Caspase-3 in osteolytic craniums.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Wear particles were capable of inducing osteolysis, aggravating the infiltration of inflammatory cells, and inhibiting the differentiation of osteoblasts in osteolytic craniums. Meanwhile wear particles upregulated the ER stress markers and promote the apoptosis in osteolytic craniums. Blocking ER stress with sodium 4-phenylbutyrate dramatical y reduced the severity of osteolysis, significantly reduced bone invasion and inflammatory infiltration, promoted the differentiation of osteoblasts, and dramatical y reduced the apoptosis. Along with apoptosis, the expression of ER stress marker was decreased. The present study suggests that the ER stress may be crucial for osteolysis and represent a potential therapeutic target in the prevention and treatment of patients with total joint replacement who are at high risk of early aseptic loosening development.

To study the clinical efficacy of Pihui Fanggan Sachet (PHFGS), a sachet of traditional Chinese herbs, in preventing influenza and its immune regulation on mice.

Objective To initially map the gene responsible for autosomal dominant familial IgA nephropathy of a Chinese family by exclusive the five loci that had been reported with linkage analysis.Methods The genetic pattern of the familial IgA nephropathy was identified and the genomic DNA was extracted from the blood samples collected from the family members.Short tandem repeat (STR) inside the loci that had been reported was selected,such as 2q36,3p23-24,4q26-31,6q22-23,17q12-22,and the data with two-point linkage analysis were performed.Results Autosomal dominant inheritance pattern was demonstrated in phenotypes of the family and there was no linkage relationship in the above five loci of chromosomes because the maximum two-point LOD score was 0.39 at D17S1868.Conclusion Following exclusion of the loci which had been reported,there are other new pathopoiesis loci of FIgAN and it reveals that FIgAN has the genetic heterogeneity according to initial result at the same time.

Objective: To investigate the relationships between constitutional types of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and motion sickness. Methods: A survey of TCM constitutions in ocean sailors participating in a voyage was performed by using the TCM Constitution Questionnaire developed by Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, while the survey of motion sickness was operated by Graybiel's diagnostic criteria. The incidences of motion sickness among sailors with different types of constitutions were compared. Results: Prior to the voyage, 50.3% of sailors exhibited a gentleness constitution, 14.5% were of dampness-heat constitution, 10.3% were of qi-stagnation constitution, whereas the percentages of qi-deficiency, yang-deficiency, yin-deficiency, blood-stasis and special diathesis constitutions were 6.2%, 7.6%, 6.2%, 4.1% and 0.7%, respectively. None exhibited a phlegm-dampness constitution. By the end of the 176-day voyage, the percentages of gentleness, dampness-heat, qi-depression, qi-deficiency, yang-deficiency, yin-deficiency, blood-stasis, special diathesis and phlegm-dampness constitutions were 33.8%, 13.8%, 13.1%, 11.0%, 6.9%, 9.7%, 4.1%, 0.7% and 6.9%, respectively. The incidence of motion sickness was 69.7% (101 sailors) during this voyage. The incidences of motion sickness among sailors with different types of constitutions before the voyage showed significant difference (P<0.001). The incidence of motion sickness was higher in the sailors with dampness-heat constitution than in those with gentleness constitution. Conclusion: Types of Chinese medical constitution can be related to susceptibility to motion sickness. Furthermore, ocean voyage may have an effect or influence on the type of Chinese medical constitution of sailors involved.

Objective To explore a new scanning technique to reduce and avoid image artifacts of thoracoabdominal CT and improve image quality for patients who cannot raise their arms. Methods Sixty-one patients with arm-raising disability between March 2004 and May 2009 were enrolled in the study. Thirty-one cases before June 2007 were scanned with their arms beside their body (control group), 30 cases after June 2007 were scanned with their arms shifting to different imaging planes of the spine(study group), and another 30 patients who can raising their arms were taken as routine group. The images artifacts were blindly evaluated by 5-points scale (severe, less severe, moderate, minimum and no artifact) by 2 experienced CT technologists and one radiologist and compared between the three groups (χ~2 test). CT values and its noise of the liver with or without artifact of the three groups were measured and analyzed by one-way ANOVA test. Results In the control group, 11 cases had severe, 15 cases had less severe, 5 cases had moderate. In the study group, 6 cases had moderate, 15 cases had minimum, 9 cases had no artifact. In the routine group, 8 cases minimum and 22 cases had no artifact. Image quality was significantly improved in the study group compared to the conventional group where χ~2 = 95.32 and P <0.01. CT value and the noise of the liver without artifact were (54.5±3.0) HU and 10. 7±2.4 in the control group, (52.0±3.5) HU and 10.7±0.5 in the study group, (53.7±3.1) HU and 9.9±0.5 in the routine group, respectively. CT value and noise of the liver with artifact were (41.7±8.4) HU and 17.9±2.6 in control group, (53.1±6.9) HU and 11.0±0.7 in the study group, (54.1±2.4) HU and 9.9±0.5 in the routine group, respectively. The CT value and its noise variation with artifact were significantly higher in the control group than the study group and the control group, where F = 36.352,235. 848, respectively and P <0.01. Conclusion The image quality can be improved and the artifact can be minimized for the patients with arm-raising disability by shifting their arm position to the different imaging planes of the spine.

BACKGROUND: At present, most of the literature on joint replacement focus on the causes and countermeasures of long-term complications, but seldom focuses on causes of postoperative short-term complications, such as wound exudation and delayed union. Whether the incidence of sustained exudation and delayed wound healing in patients with hypertension after hip replacement is higher than that in patients with normal blood pressure is not reported at present.OBJECTIVE: To identify the correlation of hypertension with persistent wound exudation and delayed wound healing in patients after femoral head replacement.METHODS: Data of 205 elderly patients with femoral neck fractures were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent femoral head replacement. In accordance with the hypertension diagnostic criteria of 2010 Chinese Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension, patients were divided into hypertension group and control group.Intraoperative blood loss, postoperative blood loss, the days of prolonged wound exudation, the wound dehiscence, and the prevalence of delayed wound healing were compared between the two groups. Then, we analyzed the relationship of hypertension with wound exudation and delayed wound healing.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The average systolic blood pressures were 153.55 mmHg and 128.82 mmHg in the hypertension and control groups, respectively (P < 0.05). (2) No significant difference in age, gender, MNA-SF score, diabetes, body mass index, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative blood loss was found between the two groups (P > 0.05). (3) The time of persistent wound exudation was 4.03 days and 2.08 days in the hypertension group and control group, respectively (P < 0.05). (4) The prevalence of delayed wound healing was significantly higher in the hypertension group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). (5) Hypertensive patients had a higher risk of prolonged wound exudation and delayed healing than their normotensive counterparts, and the hypertension is one of the important influence factors for delayed wound healing.

Objective:To analyze the EGFR gene polymorphism in the non-small cell lung (NSCLCs) cancer in southern of Shaanxi Province.Methods:The next generation sequencing technology was used to detect the mutation of exon 18,19,20 and 21 of EGFR gene.We analyzed EGFR gene mutation rate in NSCLCs patients.233 patients was involved in our study.Results:82 cases with EGFR gene mutations was found,the mutation rate of exon18,19,20 and 21 was 1.3％,16.3％,0％ and 18％ respectively.The mutation rate of EGFR in male patients was lower (31.2％,39/125) than that of female cases (39.8％,43/108),the mutation rate of squamous cell carcinoma (22％,9/41) was lower than that of adenocarcinoma (39.1％,75/192).Conclusions:NSCLCs patients from southern Shaanxi Province had high mutation rate ofEGFR gene,and exon 19 and exon 21 mutations were in the majority.EGFR gene mutation rate was not related to gender and pathological types.