Objective Objective TO investigate the potential association between matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) gene polymorphisms and risk of ischemic stroke in Western Guangdong population.Methods This hospitalbased case-control study recruited 251 patients with ischemic stroke and 96 controls.Using Multiplex SNaPshot method was used to detect the genotype of MMP-9 gene rs3787268、rs3918241 and rs3918242 polymorphisms.The association between MMP-9 gene polymorphisms and risk of ischemic stroke was analyzed.Results ① There were significant differences in the genotype distribution of rs3787268 between ischemic stroke group and the controls (P=0.042).In the recessive model,the individual risk of A/A genotype was higher (OR=2.21,P=0.046) than that of the G/G+G/A genotype.② Compared with the controls,the genotype and allele distribution of rs3918242 in the ischemic stroke group were significantly different (P=0.007,P=0.038).In the dominant model,the risk of individuals carrying the T genotype was significantly elevated (OR=2.14,P=0.009) compared with individuals with the C/C genotype.③ The genotype distribution of rs3787268 polymorphisms in the LAA but not in no-LAA subgroup was significantly different from that in the controls (P =0.039).The genotype distribution and allele frequency of rs3918242 polymorphisms in the LAA subgroup were significantly different from that of the control group (P=0.009,P=0.047).There was no significant difference in the genotype distribution and allele frequency between no-LAA subtype and the control group.Conclusions The MMP-9 gene rs3918242 and rs3787268 polymorphisms may be the risk factors of ischemic stroke in Han population in the western part of Guangdong province,China.The MMP-9 gene rs3918242 and rs3787268 polymorphisms may be the risk factors of large-artery atherosclerotic stroke.

Objective To observe the role of Osterix in controlling bone volume in vertebral body and to investigate the possible mechanism .Methods X-ray radiology ,micro CT and HE staining were used to evaluate the change of bone volume in both Osterix knockout and transgenic mice .TRAP staining was used to assess the activity of osteoclasts and immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression level of RANKL .Results No obvious changes were found in Osterix transgenic mice ,while X-ray examina-tion ,micro CT and HE staining showed that the bone density and bone volume in the lumbar vertebral body increased significantly in OSX null mice 12 weeks after birth .TRAP staining showed that the number of osteoclasts decreased in OSX null mice .IHC re-vealed that the expression level of RANKL was down-regualted in OSX null mice .Conclusion Osterix play an important role in controlling bone volume of vertebral body in mice .