The ultrastructrual features of tegument and caecum of Chinese mainland strain S. japonicum abult were studied by transmission electron microscopy.l.The tegumental surface folds and pits of male worms are more obvious than those of female worms, and ultrastructural difference was also detected in various regions of the tegumental surface.2.The gut of male and female worms consists of a single-layered columnar epithelial cell surrounded by a thin muscle layer, but the ultrastructural differences are found between different regions of the gut.3.The comparative study of the tegument and the caecal epithelium has shown that in function the caecal syncytium appears to be responsible for the digestion and absorption, while the tegument is responsible for both absorption and defence.

Objective To review the effect of endothelial cells in the tumoral invasion miroecosystem(TIMES) and the progress of recent research in this field. Methods The relative references of TIMES, including investigative background, main components, differences compared with the tumor microenvironment, and effect of endothelial cell are studied systematically. Results The TIMES is considered as a naturally integreted functional unit which is composed of cell communities and host environment during the process of tumoral cells invading, it is an ecosystem at both cellular and molecular level. Being different from TIMES, the term of tumoral microenvironment means the environment conditions for the existence of tumor cells, it is a kind of constructive system, not including tumor cell itself, and not possessing the regulation of ecosystem. The main elements of TIMES include tumor cell communities, host cell communities, and their enviroment(extracellular matrix), among them the endothelial cell communities are the most important host communities. The main effect of endothelial cells on the TIMES is the trophic links between tumor cell communities and endothelial communities, which froms a material cycle, including nutritional and matrix cycyles. The tumoral invasion and metastasis result from the continuous rebuilding of trophic links between tumor cell communities and endthelial cell communities.Conclusions The endothelial cell regulates TIMES by its trophic links with tumor cell communities. To block the links between tumor cell communities and endothelial cell communities might be the one of the key factors in tumoral treatment.

Objective To explore whether NO is able to induce apoptosis in Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites.Methods Apoptosis induced by NO in T\^gondii tachyzoites was investigated by TUNEL (terminal\|deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated d\|UTP nick end labeling ) method, electron microscopy and agarose gel electrophoresis. Results NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP),was found to induce apoptosis in Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in a time\| and dose\|dependent manner by TUNEL detection. N\|acetylcysteine, a NO scavenger, could inhibit SNP\|induced apoptosis in the tachyzoites while potassium ferricyanide could not induce apoptosis in the tachyzoite. Electron macroscopy showed that SNP\|treated tachyzoites possessed typical morphological features of apoptosis, including chromatin condensation below the nuclear membrane, nuclear pyknosis, and formation of apoptotic body.Agarose gel electrophoresis revealed that SNP\|treated tachyzoite DNA fragment exhibited characteristic "DNA ladder" after 15 to 20 h. Conclusion SNP, NO donor, might induce apoptosis in T\^gondii tachyzoites in terms of characteristic morphological and biochemical features.

Aim To explore the effects of inhibitors of glycosphingolipid biosynthesis D-PDMP on the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells. Methods Neural stem cells cultured in vitro were treated with different concentration of D-PDMP. The effects of D-PDMP on proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells were evaluated by counting of neurospheres size and cellular number, MTT assaying and the experiment of inducing differentiation.Results Neurospheres were smaller in size after treated with D-PDMP. The data of cellular counting and MTT assay suggested that D-PDMP could inhibit proliferation of neural stem cells and lead cells death in higher concentration, D-PDMP also reduced the differentiation ability of neural stem cells. Although differentiated cells were fewer, they could be induced into neurons and astrocytes.Conclusion The inhibitors of glycosphingolipid biosynthesis D-PDMP could inhibit the proliferation of neural stem cells, even lead cells death. It also reduced the differentiation ability of neural stem cells.

Objective To investigate relationships between the expression of cNOS mRNA and invasion and metastasis and prognosis in primary gastric carcinomas. Methods In situ hybridization was used to determine the expression of cNOS mRNA in 119 gastric cancer and 82 follow-up data were analyzed to obtain survival figures. Results In gastric carcinoma specimens,the expression of cNOS mRNA can be observed in the tumor cells,endothelial cells and mononuclear phagocytes;the poorer the carcinoma differentiation,the higher the positive rate of cNOS mRNA in tumor cells and endothelial cells;the expression of cNOS mRNA in tumor cells and endothelial cells reveals a significant positive correlation to the depth of invasion,lymph node metastasis and TNM stage;the patient with positive expression of cNOS mRNA in endothelial cells has a poor prognosis;the expression of cNOS mRNA in mononuclear phagocytes is not related to histopathologic type,the depth of invasion,lymph node metastasis and TNM stage.Conclusion In gastric carcinoma,the expression of cNOS mRNA in tumor cells and endothelial cells might be realted to potential of invasion,metastasis,and the patient with cNOS mRNA positive expression in endothelial cells would have a poor prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical significance of thrombospondin-2 (THBS2) mRNA expression in gastric carcino-ma and its relationships with clinicopathologic features, microvessel density (MVD), and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2). Meth-ods:THBS2 mRNA expression was detected in 82 cases of gastric carcinomas and adjacent tissues using real-time quantitative fluores-cence polymerase chain reaction. The correlation of this expression with clinicopathologic features was also analyzed. Cluster of differ-entiation 34 (CD34) and MMP-2 protein expression was examined using an immunohistochemical Elivision method. MVD was deter-mined based on CD34-positive tubular structures. Results:The THBS2 mRNA expression level was significantly higher in the gastric carcinomas than in paraneoplastic tissues (P=0.002). The expression was associated with the depth of tumor invasion, MVD, and MMP-2 (P=0.02, r=0.35, P<0.01, and P=0.004, respectively) but not with patient gender, patient age, tumor size, histological type, and lymph node metastasis (P=0.53, P=0.53, P=0.21, P=0.84, and P=0.96, respectively). Conclusions: THBS2 may be significantly in-volved in the occurrence and progression of gastric carcinoma. The effects of THBS2 on gastric tumor growth and metastasis can be monitored by controlling the MMP-2 expression in the carcinoma. However, the specific functions and underlying mechanisms of TH-BS2 require further investigation.

Objective The aim of this study was to measure quantitatively the TSP-4 mRNA expression and its significance in gastric carcinoma was evaluated by correlating its expression with clinicopathological features, microvessel density(MVD) and MMP-9.Methods Eighty-two patients with gastric carcinoma were recruited in this study. TSP-4 mRNA expression in gastric carcinoma and adjacent tissue was detected by real-time PCR. CD34 and MMP-9 protein expression were examined by immunohistochemistry. MVD was determined according to CD34-positive tubular structures. Results The expression level of TSP-4mRNA in gastric carcinoma was obviously higher than those of adjacent tissue(P=0.03) and it was associated with tumor size, histological type, lymph node metastasis, MVD and MMP-9(P=0.002, P=0.031, P=0.014,r＝0.67 P<0.01, P=0.008),but not sex, age and depth of invasion. (P=0.53,P=0.57,P=0.15).Conclusion TSP-4 may play an important role in occurrence and progression of gastric carcinoma and that the effect of TSP-4 on tumor growth and metastasis may be exerted through regulation of angiogenesis and MMP-9 expression in gastric carcinoma.

Objective To screen the liver cell proteins interacting with the novel protein encoded by the 2.2 kb singly spliced variant of hepatitis B virus genome. Methods The splicing-specific gene TPss generated by the 2.2 kb singly spliced variant of HBV genome was amplified by PCR and cloned into the bait vector pGBKT7. After exclusion of self-activatian capacities of TPss protein, a two-hybrid library screening was performed using a pre-transformed human liver cDNA library to screen the liver cell proteins interacting with TPss. Mammalian two-hybrid assay was also done to further confirm the interactions between the bait and prey proteins in Huh7 and HepG2 hepatacytes. Results TPss gene with the size of 336 bp was successfully amplified and cloned, and the TPss protein expressed well in AHI09 yeast cells. Four liver cell proteins interacting with TPss, i. e. , cathepsin B, epoxide hydrolase 1, cathepsin D and fibrinogen gamma chain, were screened by yeast two-hybrid assay and further confirmed by mammalian two-hybrid assay. Conclusion TPss could interact with liver cell proteins.

Plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) antigen level in 204 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) was higher than that in 60 healthy subjects (P

Objective To investigate the signaling role of arachidonic acid in the invasion of RAW264.7 macrophage by Toxoplasma gondii . Methods Rate of infection was calculated by both light microscope and flow cytometer. Fluorescent emission spectra were recorded using a microspectrofluometer for the concentration of cytoplasmic free calcium. Results Calcium concentration in macrophages and rate of infection increased with a higher concentration of exogenous arachidonic acid in a dose-dependent manner. The invasion was dependent on the mobilization of calcium from the extracellular medium and from intracellular stores and followed the influx of calcium into the parasitized cell. Conclusion Arachidonic acid may enhance the rate of infection via calcium transduction pathway.