This article describes the definition of precision medicine and the American and Chinese precision medicine initiatives.It then discussed ethical and regulatory challenges raised by precision medicine.These challenges include cost-effectiveness ratio evaluation for precision medicine initiatives,risk-benefit ratio in precision medicine,valid informed consent for research participants,independent ethical review of precise prevention and treatment protocols,protection of individual privacy data,mass data sharing and equitable access of research results.

Based on the experiences and lessons in the practice of international ethics review,this paper discusses 8 related issues in order to strengthen the capacity in ethics review in China.The relevant issues of ethics review board construction and professional personnel training are also included.

OBJECTIVE:To study the chemical constituents of the root of Rumex japonicus. METHODS: The root of Rumex japonicus was separated by different methods such as organic solvent method and column chromatography, and its structure was identified by spectrum technology. RESULTS: A total of seven compounds were isolated from the root of Rumex japonicus, which were identified to be as ?-sitosterol, quercetin, rumizin, emodin, physcion, chrysophanol and 1,6,7-trihydroxy-3-methoxyanthraquinone. Among them, quercetin and 1,6,7-trihydroxy-3-methoxyanthraquinone were isolated from this plant for the first time. CONCLUSION: This study provides scientific evidences for further study of the root of Rumex japonicus.

This paper explores certain ethical issues related to stem cell research including the social circumstances of stem cell technology development,stem cell research and Chinese culture,consciousness to protect the legal rights and profits of patients and subjects,absence in management,and new challenges in this particular field.It is also concluded that a legal regulation on stem cell research and clinical application must be formulated to protect the legal rights and profits of patients,subjects,and the public during the further development of stem cell research.

As the impact of molecular and genomic data grows in epidemiology,numerous studies of genetic epidemiology and post-genomics research rely increasingly on the use of human biobanks.Biobanking ranges in scope from small collections of samples in academic or hospital settings to large-scale national repositories.In this context,the construction of biobank is confronting With numerows ethical challenges,informed consent in particular.The paper analyses several concent moder of participation in biobank and explores the optinal model of China——opt-out.

By comparing the differences of " Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on the prohibition against narcotic drugs " and "Law of the People's Republic of China on Narcotics Control " and their implications for harm reduction,the article analyzed the ethical issues existing in applying harm reduction policy in HIV/AIDS prevention and control,and held that the new policy to promote the methadone use would play a major role for control of drug abuse and AIDS.

Objective The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of comprehensive intervention on the family and social functions in patients with schizophrenia. Methods The stratified randomization, controlled experiment was designed for this study. 300 cases were diagnosed as schizophrenia in accordance with the Chinese classification and diagnostic criteria of mental disorder-3 (CCMD-3) diagnosis standard, and they were randomly divided into intervention group and control group. All the cases were followed up for three years after hospital discharge. Comprehensive interventions were only taken in intervention group, but not in control group. All of the cases were e-valuated by family assessment device (FAD) and social disability screening schedule ( SDSS) at the time of pre - therapy, hospital discharge and the end of 1st, 2nd and 3rd year after hospital discharge. Results In the 3rd year after hospital discharge, the scores of PANSS, FAD and SDSS of intervention group were significantly lower than those of control group ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion Comprehensive intervention can significantly improve the family and social functions in the patients with schizophrenia.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To observe the effect of endogenous nitric oxide synthase ( NOS) inhibitor asymmetric dimeth-ylarginine ( ADMA ) and its signaling pathways on NO levels and skeletal muscle contractility in 4-week running rats. METHODS:The 4 weeks running rat model was established.The twitch tension, tetanic tension and the fatigue test of sole-us muscle induced by electrical stimulation ex vivo were detected.The ATP content, mitochondrial DNA levels and the mR-NA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γcoactivator-1α(PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factor (NRF) were measured to reflect the mitochondrial function and biosynthesis in the skeletal muscle.Serum ADMA concentration was detected by high performance liquid chromatography.The endogenous ADMA enzymes PRMT1 and 2 subtypes of ADMA me-tabolism enzyme DDAH, 3 subtypes of NOS protein expression in the skeletal muscle were determined by Western blot.NOS activity and nitric oxide ( NO) content were analyzed by colorimetric method.RESULTS: Compared with normal control group, the twitch tension, tetanic tension and the anti-fatigue capability of soleus muscle in running group were significantly enhanced, ATP content, mitochondrial DNA content and the mRNA expression of PGC-1αand NRF were significantly in-creased (P<0.01).In addition, the protein expression of constitute type NOS (cNOS) and NOS activity were significantly increased (P<0.01), but the increase in NO content was relatively smaller in soleus muscle in exercise group (P<0.05). Moreover, serum ADMA concentration in running group was increased, while the DDAH2 expression in skeletal muscle was decreased.CONCLUSION:Short-term endurance exercise enhances the twitch tension, tetanic tension and fatigue resist-
ance of soleus muscle.The mechanism may be that increased cNOS expression feedbacks to increase ADMA concentration, thus maintaining the increase in NO synthesis at a relatively low level, and resulting in promoting skeletal muscle mitochon-dria biosynthesis and mitochondrial function.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of two different methods of catheter balloon dilatation therapy in treating cricopharyngeal achalasia and benign strictures,and to correlate balloon capacity with improve-ments in swallowing function. Methods Twenty-three cricopharyngeal achalasia patients and 7 with benign stric-tures of the cricopharyngeal muscles were diagnosed using videonuoroscopic swallowing study(VFSS).All cases re-ceived active dilatation or passive balloon dilatation therapy,combined with manipulation,indirect training,direct training and feeding instruction.Efficacy and the correlation were evaluated using VFSS and a swallowing function scale. Results Passive and active dilatation had the same efficacy.The correlation coefficient between balloon ca-pacity and swallowing function was 0.92 1.Re-evaluation using VFSS showed that opening of the cricopharyngeal muscles had improved significantly.Conclusions Balloon catheter dilation is an effective treatment for cricopha-ryngeal achalasia and benign strictures.The improvement in swallowing function is highly correlated with balloon ca-pacity in balloon dilatation therapy.Comprehensive treatment for dysphagia would provide better outcomes.

[ABSTRACT]OBJECTIVEThis study aims to explore the molecular mechanism and expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and tumor marker CD44 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells after transfection withβ-Catenin when the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was blocked.METHODSSP cells and CD44+SP cells isolated from the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE-2 by flow cytometry were identified. Changes in the number and biological characteristics of CNE-2 and CD44+SP cells in vitro were investigated after the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was blocked through siRNA.RESULTSSP cells accounted for 2.3% of nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE-2 cells, andCD44+SP cells accounted for 36.5% of the SP cells. CD44+SP cells showed significantly higher in vitro proliferation and resistance to chemotherapy (P<0.05). After transfection withβ-Catenin siRNA, the proliferation, cloning efficiency, and tolerance to chemotherapeutic drugs of the cells were found statistical differences compared with those before transfection ofβ-Catenin siRNA. CONCLUSIONWnt/β-catenin signaling pathway abnormalities are closely related to the biological behavior of nasopharyngeal carcinomaCD44+SP cells. Interference of this pathway can change the characteristics of nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells.