Paternity testing has to be cautiously practiced,since it involves issues coming from all aspects including ethics,legislation,family and society.If the educational backgrounds of the litigants prevent them from fully understanding the ethical and legal issues involved in paternal testing,it would thus be impossible to achieve a real "informed consent" for the litigants.It is our point of view that in these cases,and when no alternative solutions are available,it is the responsibility of those who perform paternity testing to advise the litigants give up the application for paternity test.Besides,it is time for judicial departments to place on the agenda the establishing of a technique standard for paternity testing and relevant judicial procedures,in order to protect the basic rights of informal consent and autonomy of litigants in paternity testing practices.It is in this article that some ethical and legal issues commonly involved in paternity testing are discussed.

Adolescent ; Anemia, Aplastic ; complications ; therapy ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; chemically induced ; complications ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans

Objective To investigate the sensitivity of the real-time fluorescence PCR technique and the bacterial culture for detecting the colonization of group B Streptococcus(GBS)in late pregnant women.Methods 2 specimens were collected from preg-nant women genital tract-rectal secretions swabs,one specimen for conducting the bacterial culture and another for conducting the real-time PCR technique to detect genital GBS.The accuracy and rapidness were compared between the two methods.308 cases of pregnant women were divided into the GBS positive group and the GBS negative group according to the detection results of the real time real-time fluorescence PCR technique.The relation between the occurrence of premature rupture of membranes with GBS was investigated by the comparative analysis.Results Among 308 pregnant women with GBS detection,18 cases were positive by the ordinary bacterial culture with the positive rate of 5.8%(18/308),while 28 cases were positive by the real-time fluorescent PCR with the positive rate of 9.4%(29/308).In the GBS positive group detected by PCR,the premature rupture of membranes occurred in 9 cases with the positive rate of 31%,while in the GBS negative group detected by PCR,which occurred in 33 cases with the pos-itive rate of 11.83%.Conclusion This survey shows that the positive detection rate of the real-time fluorescent PCR technique is significantly higher than that of the bacterial culture method,the application of this detection technique for detecting GBS provides the basis for rapidly diagnosing GBS and conducting the prophylactic use of antibacterial drugs more accurately and more effectively.

Objective To investigate the effects of rosiglitazone on the proliferation,connective tissue growth factor and Smad expression in cultured cardiac fibroblasts induced by advanced glycosylation end-products (AGEs).Methods After being treated with various amounts of rosiglitazone,the cultured neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts were incubated with AGEs.The status of cardiac fibroblasts proliferation and cell cycle were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethyhhiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTI) assay and flow cytometry.Furthermore,ELISA technique was applied to identify the level of TGF-β1.The protein expressions of CTGF and Smad in cardiac fibroblasts of neonatal SD rats were detected with Western blotting.Results The exposure of cardiac fibroblasts to AGEs at doses of 0-200 mg/L induced a dose-dependent increase in cell proliferation.At the concentration of rosiglitazooe (0.1,1,and 10 μmol/L),the cell proliferation was reduced compared with 200 mg/L AGEs group by O.823±0.072,0.785±0.060,0.601±0.081 vs 0.981±0.049,respectively (P < 0.05).The increased levels of TGF-β1 in supematants of cultured cardiac fibroblasts stimulated by AGEs were inhibited by rosiglitazone at the concentrations of 0.1,1,10μmol/L by 257.77±9.09,230.29±6.56,200.84±10.26 vs 300.68±8.56,respectively (vs 200 mg/L AGEs,P<0.01).Western blot indicated that pretreatment with rosiglitazone (0.1,1,and 10 μmol/L) inhibited CTGF protein production in a dose-dependent by 0.769±0.108,0.590±0.095,0.534±0.115 vs 1.021±0.113,respectively (vs 200 mg/L AGEs,P<0.01).It was also demonstrated that pretreatment with rosiglitazone (1 and 10 μmol/L) inhibited Smad2 protein production by 0.424±0.059,0.396±O.080 vs 0.572±0.073,respectively (vs 200 mg/L AGEs,P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).Meanwhile pretreatment with rosiglitazone (1 and 10 μmol/L) inhibited Smad4 protein production by 0.580±0.063,0.556±0.051 vs 0.672±0.059,respectively (vs 200 mg/L AGEs,P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).Conclusions The findings suggest that AGEs promote the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts and stimulate the protein production of Smad and CTGF of cardiac fibroblasts.Rosiglitazone inhibits the above reaction.These results indicate that CTGF/Smad pathway may play an important role in the protective effect of rosiglitazone on myocardial fibrosis.

Objective To assess volume state precisely and rapidly by ultrasonography of internal jugular vein (IJV) in healthy blood donor.Methods The values of the sonographic IJV collapse index and corrected IJV longitudinal length (cIJVLL) of 46 healthy blood donors were compared before and after blood donation.The correlations between IJV collapse index and cIJV LL were analyzed.Results The value of cIJV LLs before and after blood donation were significantly difference (6.56 ± 0.32 vs.6.11 ± 0.41,P ＜ 0.01).IJV collapse index before blood donation was not differently significant after blood donation (33.12 ± 2.21 vs.39.01 ± 3.83,P＞ 0.05).There was correlation between the value of cIJV LLs before and after blood donation (r =0.81).The value of IJV collapse index before and after blood donation,as well as cIJVLL was not well correlated (r =0.24,r =0.13,respectively).Conclusion The IJV collapse index is not a useful parameter for evaluation of hypovolemia,cIJV LL is more valuable marker for the detection of blood loss in emergency.

Objective To determine the changes in action potential peak value and maximal nerve conduction velocity of rabbit sciatic nerve after being exposed to different doses of high intensity ultrasound (HIU) and establish the experimental basis for the use of HIU in patients with refractory pain. Methods Eighty New Zealand white rabbits of either sex weighing 2.0-2.5 kg, aged 5-10 months were randomly divided into four groups with 20 rabbits in each group :group Ⅰ 0 second;group Ⅱ 15 seconds;group Ⅲ 25 seconds and group Ⅳ 50 seconds. The animals were anesthetized and placed in the prone position. Sciatic nerves were exposed to 4 different doses of HIU (7.1 MHz, 40 W/cm2 f55 0 s, 15 s, 25 s, 50 s) in the four groups. The animals were allowed to recover. At 5 intervals (1 and 2 weeks, 1, 3 and 6 months) after exposure to HIU, 4 animals in each group were anesthetized and recording electrodes were placed on sciatic nerves at 2 cm distal to the site of HIU radiation, tibial and sural cutaneous nerves. The amplitude (peak value) and latency of action potential and maximal conduction velocity of the nerves were recorded. Sciatic nerves were obtained from one of the four animals for light and electron microscopic examination. Results The larger was the dose of HIU, the more time was needed for the injuried nerve to recover. In group Ⅰ (0 s) there were no significant changes in action potential peak value and maximal nerve conduction velocity at any interval after exposure to HIU;in group Ⅱ (15 s) there were slight changes in the electrophysiological parameters and the changes recorded on tibial nerve returned to normal soon while those recorded on sural cutaneous nerve returned to normal one month later; in group Ⅲ (25 s) there were significant changes in the electrophysiological parameters and it took 3 months for tibial nerve but 6 months for sural cutaneous nerve to recover;in group Ⅳ (50s) the nerves were completely blocked, no action potential was recorded and no recovery was observed after 6 months. Light and electron microscopic examination showed that in group 1 no significant changes of nerves were observed; in group Ⅱ there was slight deformation of myelin sheath which returned to normal 2 weeks later; in group Ⅲ sheath was broken or lost, and axon degeneration was observed at 1 week after exposure to HIU and the changes disappeared 1 month later; in group Ⅳ necrosis of the nerve was observed and no recovery was observed 6 months later. Conclusion HIU can be used for the treatment of refractory pain. Analgesia can be achieved with loss of only part of motor function. The nerve can be permanently blocked by HIU if necessary.

Objective: To study the antitussive, expectorant and antiasthetic effects of Fortunella hindsii leaves. Methods: The antitussive effects were observed by the method of ammonia-induced cough in mice, the expectorant effects were observed by the method of phenolsulfonphthalein excretion in mice, and the antiasthmatic effects were observed by the method of histamine phosphate spray in guinea pigs. Results:The leaves of Fortunella hindsii at low, medium and high doses could decrease the cough times and prolong the cough latent period (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01), high dose could promote the phenol red excretion (P<0. 05), and high and medium do-ses could prolong the incubation period of guinea pigs for asthma caused by histamine phosphate (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). Conclu-sion:The leaves of Fortunella hindsii have promising antitussive, expectorant and antiasthmatic effects.

Objective:To compare the interaction of withdrawal behaviors and correlated indices of two morphine dependent models of mice.Method: Mice were given morphine with gradual increasing dose to establish two models of morphine dependence with different dosage sequence, i.e. model 1 for 7 days, model 2 for 5 days. Withdrawal syndrome was precipitated by naloxone and recorded. The weight of heart, liver, lung, kidneys, adrenal glands, testicles of the mice were compared.Result:Both methods (7 days way and 5 days way) successfully established morphine dependent models in mice. In withdrawal, the mice of 7 days model had more average times of jump and “wet-dog” shaking than the mice of 5 days model had, they had also more obvious upper eyelid dropping and anterior claw tremble. The weights of heart, kidneys, testicles of the mice of 7 days model were significantly lower than the counterparts of the mice of 5 days model. Conclusion:Both 7 days way and 5 days way can establish morphine dependent model of mice, the former has advantage of more indexes applicable while the later has advantage of less dose of morphine and short time needed.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of injectable osteoinductive material with fibrin sealant(FS) as a carrier compounded with bovine bone morphogenetic protein(bBMP) and bovine fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) for radial defect in dogs.Methods A total of 12 dogs were used in this study.The animals were randomly divided into treatment and control groups with 6 in each.We created a 20-mm bone defect at the upper radius of each dog,and then sutured the subcutaneous tissues and skin around the lesion.After the operation,FS(control) and FS+bFGF+bBMP were given to the two groups respectively by percutaneous injection.To compare the efficacy of the injections,we examined the animals by radiography in 4,8,16,and 24 weeks.The dogs were sacrificed in 24 weeks to obtain the specimens of the bone defect for histological examination and bone mineral density(BMD) determination.Results Radiography showed callus formation in 4 weeks and then osteoneogenesis in 24 weeks in the treatment group;whereas,in the control group,no callus was found around the defect in 24 weeks.In the treatment group,the mean BMD of the diseased radius was significantly higher than that of the healthy leg and that in the control group [(456.33?13.74) mg/cm2 vs(433.33?6.77) mg/cm2(t=2.57,P=0.00) and 0 mg/cm2].By histological examination,the new-formed bone in the treatment group was confirmed integral and dense with intact cortex and continuous marrow cavities in 24 weeks,while the bone defect of the controls were repaired with connective tissues without remodeling of the bone.Conclusion It is effective to repair bone defect in dogs by using injectable osteoinductive material with FS as a carrier compounded with bBMP and bFGF.

Objective:To study the difference of c-fos expression of neurons in subareas of hippocampus of morphine dependent mice.Methods:Mice were given (sc) increasing doses of morphine to form morphine dependent models and withdrawal syndromes were precipitated by naloxone. The intensity of withdrawal syndromes was evaluted accoding to indices ,such as the number of jumping ,the weight loss,et al .The expression of Fos positive neurons in subareas of CA1, dentate gyrus and CA3 of hippocampus of morphine dependent group was observed by immunohistochemistry assay. Results:The number of Fos positive cells in subareas of CA1 and dentate gyrus of morphine dependent group was much higher than that of the normal control group(P