AIM: To investigate the antagonistic action of Captopril (Cap) on the activation and injury of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) and the possible mechanisms. METHODS: After 18 h exposure of the cultured HUVECs to LPS (1 mg/L), or LPS (1 mg/L) plus Cap at the concentration of 10~(-7)mol/L, 10~(-5)mol/L and 10~(-3)mol/L, the expression of vWF protein in the conditioned media was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the expression of ICAM-1 protein in HUVECs was determined by indirect immunofluorescence technique with flow cytometry as well. In addition, the expression of TNF? mRNA was determined by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: The results of ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence technique showed that exposure to LPS at a concentration of 1 mg/L led to a significant increase in the vWF and ICAM-1 expression in HUVECs as compared to the control (P

Objective To analyze reasons of postoperat iv e relapse of inguinal hernia and to explore the clinical significance of laparos copic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair for recurrent hernia. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 24 cases of recurr ent inguinal hernia treated by laparoscopic TAPP repair from June 1998 to Octobe r 2003 in this hospital. There were 11 cases of direct hernia and 13 cases of in direct hernia. Results Operations were completed successfully in all the 24 cases without conversions to open surgery. The operation time was 47~128 min (mean, 69 min), and the postoperative hospital stay, 2~5 days (mean, 3 days). Urinary retention happened in 6 cases after the operation, in which a F oley urethral catheter was indwelled for 1~3 days. There were no complications s uch as wound infection, scrotal hematoma or pneumatosis. Follow-up checkups were made for 2~66 months (mean, 27 months) in all the 24 cases. No recurrence was o bserved. Conclusions Laparoscopic TAPP repair for recurrent in guinal hernia has advantages of minimal invasion and few complications, being a safe and feasible option for treating recurrent inguinal hernia.

Objective To summarize the regularity and and characteristics of response to interferon treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods 150 cases of CHB were randomly divided into two groups:interferon therapy (observation group,n=90)and routine protecting liver(control group,n=60)By prospective researching programme,HBV markers,including liver function test were continous periodically detected simultaneously,HBV-DNA quantitative blot hybridization,HBV-DNA quantitative PCR determination were performed.Results The typical responsiveness curve of transaminase decreased rapidly,was accompanied with the use of interferon. HBV DNA turns negative earlier than HBeAg doses. In those patients who was response to interferon completely after interferon administration,the HBV DNA and HBeAg turning negative average time was 1 9 and 3 4 months respectively. The level of HBV DNA was continuons decreased in all patients treated with interferon. HBV DNA quantitative PCR provide more accuracy of viral copies in patient's peripheral blood than that in dot hybridization in interferon therapy.conclusions Interferon the treatment for patients with CHB is effectiveness.

Non-proline cis peptide bond is rarely found in proteins. The recent surveys revealed that this unusual peptide configuration is by no means a curiosity, but overwhelmingly occurs at functionally important sites. However one still doubts whether it is related to crystal packing interactions, since all non-proline cis peptide bonds identified so far are from crystal structures. A toxin BmK M1 from the scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch have been crystallized as a dimer in space group P212121 with unit-cell dimensions a = 76.39 (A),b=52.77 (A), c=27.12 (A). This dimeric structure was solved by molecular replacement and refined to R=0.109 for all reflections at a resolution of 1.4 (A). The extensively refined structure definitely shows that the cis peptide bond Pro9-His10 equally occurs in both molecule A and molecule B in the dimer. The observation manifested that this striking non-proline cis peptide is not related to crystal packing, but caused by certain intrinsic factors. The detailed analyses and comparison with the structure of BmK M8, which is homologous to M1 but has trans peptide bond 9-10, showed that the five-residue reverse (8 ～12) with a consensus sequence (-KPXNC-) may be the intrinsic structural element for the cis form of this peptide bond. A pair of well organized main-chain hydrogen bond between residues 10 in cis unit and 64 at C-terminus forms main tertiary interactions to stabilize this energetically unfavorable peptide bond.

Objective: Our aim was to study whether the cellular bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) profile was associated with the parameters of pulmonary function tests. Methods：Lung function tests and BAL were carried out in 18 untreated, non-smoking patients suffering from sarcoidosis and 18 normal subjects. Results：（1）Lung function tests were normal at rest in patients with sarcoidosis（P＞0.05）, the single breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity decreased (P＜0.05)，and the small airway function decreased too (P＜0.05).（2）The percentage of lymphocytes in BALF of sarcoidosis increased comparing with the normal subjects（P＜0.01），and the ratio of CD+4 to CD+8 in BALF increased significantly in sarcoidosis（P ＜0.05）, furthermore, the increase of both the percentage of lymphocytes and the ratio of CD+4 to CD+8 in BALF of sarcoidosis were well nagatively correlated with the decrease of the percentage of DLCO (r=-0.67, P＜0.01 and r=-0.55, P＜0.05, respectively), the decrease of mid-expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity (FEF50%) was well correlated with the increase of the percentage of lymphocytes in BALF of sarcoidosis (r=-0.54, P＜0.05). Conclusion：Pulmonary diffusing capacity（DLCO) was significently correlated with BALF lymphocyte phenotype，so was small airway function，and can act as the marker of activity of sarcoidosis.

Objective To investigate the effects of alprostadil (Lipo-PGE) combined low-dose dopamine in the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). Methods 61 patients with hepatorenal syndrome were randomly di-vided into two groups, treatment group 31 cases, 30 cases of the control group. Treatment group in the control group based on the 20μg soluble in 10% glucose infusion 100 ml in combined treatment with Lipo-PGE a day, one time,and combined with low-dose dopamine 3 μg/(kg·min) intravenous infusion, 1 week course of treatment. Result The treatment group liver function improvement in renal function are superior to the control group (P <0.01), to-ted effective rate was 67.7%. Conclusion The united alprostadil and low-dose dopamine satisfied with liver and kidney syndrome, there is synergy.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose erythromycin for the prevention of feeding intolerance in preterm infants. Methods Fifty-two preterm infants (30-31 weeks' GA group) and 68 preterm infants (32-34 weeks' GA group) were randomly subdivided into prevention groups and control groups. From the second day the prevention groups received intravenously erythromycin [3 mg /(kg·d)] for 10 days,the control groups received placebo of glucose. Results In 30-31 weeks' GA group,days to achieve full enteral feeding (DAFEF) ,days to regain birth weight (DRBW) and duration of hospitalization (DH) were shorter in the prevention group as compared to those in the control group, the incidence of feeding intolerance was lower too,but there was no significant difference (P >0.05). In 32-34 weeks' GA group, DAFEF [(13.8±4.5) d],DRBW [(10.5±1.6) d],DH [(28.5±6.8) d] were significantly shorter in the prevention group than those in the control group [(17.2±4.2), (13.8±1.5), (35.5±7.2) d],the incidence of feeding intolerance in the prevention group was lower too[ 17.6%(6/34) vs 35.3%( 12/34) ], there was significant difference (P < 0.05 ). Conclusion In 32-34 weeks' GA, low-dose erythromycin can be a safe and effective method to promote food tolerance in preterm infants, but not sure in 30-31 weeks' GA.

BACKGROUND: The study on the candidate gene of schizophrenia was one of the major ways of exploring its etiology. One of important candidate genes associated with schizophrenia is the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene(BDNF)OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between schizophrenia and C270T polymorphism of BDNF gene.DESIGN: Case-control and comparative observation SETTING: Institute of Mental Health of Central South University PARTICIPANTS: Totally 194 patients with schizophrenia, including 95 males and 99 females aged from 15 to 59 years, hospitalized in man and women wards in the Institute of Mental Health, Xiangya Second Hospital of Central South University from March to October 2003 were set as patients group. Controls were selected among the healthy volunteers of Xiangya Medical College was included in terms of age and gender comparable with patients group. Altogether 187 cases of controls, of whom 88 males and 99 females were studied. Their age ranged from 18 to 42 years old with the average of (26±7) years old.Those with psychosies and severe somatopathy were excluded. The patients and their family member have no history of psychosis .All the subjects were of Hunan Han nationality. Either the patient or his or her family members signed the written consent form. Individuals in the control group also signed the written consent form.positive symptom scale (PANSS-P) (7 items), negative symptom scale (PANSS-N) (7 items) and General Symptom Scale (PANSS-G) (16 items),altogether 30 items, as well as 3 additional items to evaluate the attack fatalness were used to evaluate whether the psychic symptom existed or not and the degree of severity of each symptom(7-item scoring: 1 was without,7 was very severe) . The patients were evaluated on the day of hospitalizing was used to compare the frequency among groups.polymorphism of BDNF gene between patients group and healthy control RESULTS: Totally 194 patients with schizophrenia and 187 healthy genotype (26.8%) in patients was much higher than that of the healthy controls (5.9%) (x2=32.71, df=1, P ＜ 0.01).The distribution frequency of T allele in patients' group (14.4%) was much higher than that in the scores, PANSS-P, PANSS-N and PANSS-G scores in patients with the genotype of C/T were 59-121 ;9-42( average 20.08±6.16);8-41 (average 19.02±9.13);22-68 (average 36±8.02)respectively. And the total PANSS scores, PANSS-P, PANSS-N and PANSS-G scores in patients with the genotype of C/C were 58-121 ;7-39, (average 19.2±5.88);8-40scores, (average19.02 ±8.98); 22 -68 (average36.4 ±8.32)respectively.There were no significant differences in positive and negative symptom scale (PANSS)items as well as PANSS-G between the patients with C/C and C/T genotype(P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: BDNF gene C270T polymorphism was associated with the susceptibility of schizophrenia. The distribution frequency of T/C genotype and T allele in schizophreniac was significantly higher than those of the normal healthy controls. And no significant difference was obtained between patients with the genotype of T/C or C/C in terms of negative,positive symptoms and psychosocial function as well.