Aim To evaluate the short-term biocompatibility of a newkind of prosthetic nucleus-Evergel, which is made from the modifiedpolyvinyl alcohol hydrogel. Methods According to China national standardGB/T16886 documents, the toxicity of Evergel prosthetic nucleus materialwas investigated by the cytotoxicity test, sensitization test, haemolysis test,Ames test, mice marrow micronucleus test and chromosome aberration test ofmammalian cell in vitro. Results This material had no cytoxicity, no sen-sitivity, no obvious haemolysis, and no mutagencity in Ames test, micemarrow micronucleus test and chromosome aberration test of mammalian cellin vitro. Conclusion The Evergel prosthetic nucleus has a good biocom-patibility and can be used clinically.

Objective To study the expression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E(eIF4E)in the pathological scars and its probable role in the pathogenesis of pathological scars.Methods Immunohistochemiscal technique was performed to detect the expression and distribution of eIF4E protein in hypertrophic scars(14 cases),keloids(25 cases),mature scars(20 cases)and normal skins(20 cases).Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)was used to detect the eIF4E mRNA level in hypertrophic scars(7 cases),keloids(8 cases),mature scars(8 cases)and normal skins(8 cases).Results Thepositive rate of eIF4E protein expression was remarkably significant difference between normal scars and pathological scars(P＜0.05).The level of eIF4E mRNA in pathological scars 1.73±0.31was higher than that in control group 0.99±0.28.There was significant difference between two groups (P＜O.05).Conclusions The expression of eIF4E is increased in pathological scar.eIF4 E expression is closely associated with the development of pathological scar.Therefore,eIF4E overexpression may play an important role in the proliferation of fibroblasts and in the pathogenesis of pathological scar.