The author described the experience at Kennedy Institute of Ethics during her visit and learning as a senior visiting scholar .The author also introduced Kennedy Institute of Ethics to China .In that institute , they not only have the largest library of bioethics in the world but also have a group of research experts and professors who love bioethics and treat their work diligently , show their enthusiasm and warm care to new learning scholars , etc.

With the Human Genome Program coming to a successful end,the post genomic era has arrived in which the research of post genomic program is developing quickly.In this paper,the developing trend of the functional genomics research in post genomic era are discussed,with the contents involved: functional genomics,functional proteomics,pharmacogenomics,gene testing,bioinformatics,comparative genomics,which they are main research fields of post genomic era.In the last part,related ethical,legal and social implications are discussed.

In January 2004,the long expected written regulation of 'Guidelines for research on human embryonic stem cells' was jointly released by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Health,Beijing,China.In 'Ethical Guidelines for Research on Human Embryonic Stem Cells',The Article 5 say: The human embryonic stem cell used for research can derived from ① spared gamete or blastula remaining after In Vitro Fertilization(IVF);②fetal cells after natural or voluntarily selective abortion;③blastula or monosexual split blastula by somatic cell nucleus transfer technique;④germ cells voluntarily donated;The Article 6 say: any blastula obtained by IVF,somatic cell nucleus transfer technique,mono-sexual reproduction technique or genetic modification cannot be cultured in ex vivo for longer than 14 days,since fertilization or nucleus transfer.Such supporting to the embryo researched gotten by the somatic cell nucleus transfer technique,and supporting the human embryonic stem cell research under the condition of the embryo researched within 14 days,is meeting the objections from native country and some foreign countries.In my paper,I argued that an embryo within 14 days is not a person,an embryo is only a human biological life,a human embryo has a certain value,it deserves due to respect,but if there are enough reasons,it can be used.Destructive embryo research should only be approved in exceptional circumstances.To the blastulas or mono-sexual split blastulas by somatic cell nucleus transfer technique,this is an Ethical issue of creating embryos for research.The majority of bioethicists said it is wrong to create and destroy a person for research.I argued that the Moral Status of Researched Human Embryo is not a person,so, Kant' theory is no used here.I further claimed that a 14 days old embryo could be used for research.I quoted a major view of the moral status of the embryo/fetus from the medical science.A 14 days old embryo is a cluster of cells without bones,organs of other traits;they have a consciousness around 20 weeks,so a 14 days old embryo cannot be hurt.

Object To explore, on the whole, the anticancer activity and mechanism of the aqueous extract of Ruixiang Langdu (Stellera chamaejasme L.) (SCLA). Methods Mice were given different i.g. doses of SCLA and their serum collected at different intervals after drug administration. The effects of the serum on the proliferation of mouse L 1210 leukemic cells were observed with MTT assay, clone formation and incorporation of [ 3H] TdR into DNA of the cells. Results Serum SCLA collected 1, 2, 4, 8 h after administration of 3, 6, and 12 g/kg SCLA showed significant decrease of MTT formazans and clone formation. Serum SCLA collected 2 h after drug administration showed more strong inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. It also inhibited the incorporation of [ 3H] TdR into DNA of L 1210 cells. Conclusion SCLA showed a remarkable inhibitory effect on proliferation and DNA synthesis of cancer cells cultured in vitro, which may be the main anticancer mechanisms of SCLA.

Objective To explore the technique and clinical outcome of the atlantoaxial pedicle screw system in the treatment of the unstable atlantoaxial dislocation post traction.Methods The study involved 32 patients with atlantoaxial dislocation(type T2 of TOI classification)admitted from March 2005 to September 2009.There were 17 patients with fresh odontoid fracture and two with old odontoid fracture,five with traumatic disruption of the transverse atlantal ligament and eight with congenital odontoid dysplasia.JOA scores of neurological function before operation was at a range of 5-13(average 8.38).The average of space available for the cord(SAC)was 9.15 mm.Before the atlantoaxial pedicle screw system was carried out,the skull traction was performed in all the patients preoperatively.Results A total of 128 pedicle screws were inserted safely,with mean operation time and perioperative blood loss for 1.5 hours and 300 ml,respectively.No injury to the vertebral artery or spinal cord was observed.All the patients were followed up for 12-24 months,which showed that JOA scores one year after operation was increased to 10-17(average 14.56),with the improvement rate of 71.70%,and that the SAC was average 14.86 mm.The X-ray and SCT scans verified the proper position of the screws,with no internal fixation failure or atlantoaxial redislocation.After 3-6 months,all the patients except for one patient achieved a solid bone fusion.One year after operation,the one patient with no bone graft fusion was removed of the internal fixation system and obtained satisfactory restoration of the rotational function.Conclusions Atlantoaxial pedicle screw system is an effective method for the treatment of the unstable atlantoaxial dislocation post traction,for it has the advantages of stable three-dimension fixation,direct screw placement,intraoperative reduction and high fusion rate.

Objective To comprehend the status of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, and study the relationship between Hp and T2DM. Methods Seven hundred and sixty-eight in-hospital T2DM patients (T2DM group, including new diagnosed 194 patients and re-diagnosed 574 patients) and 172 sex, age matched health individuals(control group ) were involved in this study. 14C-urea breath test (14C-UBT) was proceeded in both groups to determine Hp infection, and infection rates were calculated. Results Total Hp infection rate in T2DM group was significantly higher than that in control group [56.0%(430/768) vs 37.8%(65/172) ,P< 0.01], delamination analysis according to sex also showed significant differences between T2DM group and control group(P < 0.01). The rate of Hp infection in new diagnosed patients and re-diagnosed patients, female patients and male patients had no significant difference (P > 0.05 ). The rate of Hp infection in different age and sex had no significant difference (P >0.05 ). Conclusions The rate of Hp infection in T2DM patients is higher than that in non-T2DM patients.Hp infection has relationship with T2DM, and has no relationship with age, sex and course of disease.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of moxifloxacin-based triple therapy combined with rebamipide for Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication in type 2 diabetic patients.Methods Two-hundred age and sex matched type 2 diabetic patients with Hp infection and accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms were assigned into rebamipide group (n =100) and placebo group (n =100).Both groups received moxifloxacin-based triple therapy for 10 d to eradicate Hp.Rebamipide was administrated in rebamipide group and placebo was administrated in placebo group for 30 d.All patients proceeded 14C-urea breath test (14C-UBT) hefore and 7-8 weeks after eradication therapy.The blood sugar indices,gastrointestinal symptom scores and Hp eradication rates were measured and compared.Those who had gained successful Hp eradication in both groups proceeded 14 C-UBT again 12 months after eradication therapy,and the re-infection rates of both groups were compared.Results There were no significant differences in the average fasting glucose,postprandial glucose and HbAlc levels between the rebamipide group and the placebo group before and after therapy (P ＞ 0.05),the gastrointestinal symptoms of the rebamipide group were improved more markedly than those of the placebo group after therapy (Rome Ⅲ Criteria,2.1 ± 0.9 vs.4.4 ± 0.7,P ＜ 0.01).The Hp eradication rate with both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analysis of the rebamipide group were higher than that of the placebo group [86.0％ (86/100) vs.73.0％ (73/100),P ＜ 0.05 and 92.5％ (86/93) vs.76.8％ (73/95),P ＜ 0.01].The re-infection rates with both ITT and PP analysis of those who had successful eradication in rebamipide group were lower than that in placebo group [19.8％ (17/86) vs.35.6％ (26/73),P＜0.05and20.5％ (17/83) vs.36.6％ (26/71),P＜0.05].Conclusions Moxifloxacin-based triple therapy combined with rebamipide has a more beneficial effect on Hp related symptoms,a higher Hp eradication rate and a lower Hp re-infection rate for type 2 diabetic patients.

Object To explore the antitumor mechanism of Stellera chamaejasme Linn.(SC).Methods SC containing-serum(SCCS)was derived from mice pretreated with different doses of SC.Cultured human leukemia HL-60 and human gastric adenocarcinoma SGC-7901 cells were used.Inhibition of proliferation was measured using MTT assay.Morphological assessment of apoptosis was performed with fluorescence microscope.DNA fragmentation was assessed by agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry.Expression of bcl-2 protein was measured with immunohistochemistry.Results Exposure of exponentially growing HL-60 cells to mice serum containing 10% SC(pretreated with SC3,6, and 12 g/kg)for 48h resulted in growth inhibition in a dose-dependent manner.Typical morphological changes of apoptosis and DNA fragmentation in HL-60 cells were induced."Apobodies'in the apoptotic cells were observed,'ladder"pattern of agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA from 11.7% to 57.4%.Treatment with SC containing serum decreased the percentage of SGC-7901 cell of bcl-2 protein positive expression from 78.3% to 32.9%.Conclusion SC could induce apoptosis of HL-60 cells and decrease the expression of bcl-2 protein of gastric adenocarcinoma SGC-7901 cells.

BACKGROUND: There is no study addressing transplantation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia.OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effect of human umbilical cord stem cells transplantation in the treatment of autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias. METHODS: Spinocerebellar ataxias patients selected from Stem Transplantation Center of the 455 Hospital of Chinese PLA were treated with umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells transplantation via intrathecal injection. The number of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells was 107 per transplantation, once per week, for 4 weeks.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Both the total score of the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale and Activities of Daily Living score were significantly decreased at 1 month after transplantation compared with before treatment (P < 0.05). The nerve function was significantly improved and the total effective rate was up to 16.7%. Experimental findings indicate that, transplantation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells via intrathecal injection is a feasible and effective treatment to ameliorate the clinical efficacy of spinocerebellar ataxias patients and improve their quality of life.

Objective To investigate the thyroid ultrastructural pathological changes of diabetes mellitus (DM) rats as well as the intervention effects of insulin and aminoguanidine. Methods Totally 87 rats were treated with streptozotocin to establish DM animal models and divided into DM group(n=27),insulin intervention group(n=32) and aminoguanidine intervention group(n=28),25 rats were taken as normal controls. Twelve and 20 weeks after the animal model establishment, animals were sacrificed, thyroid tissue was taken and ultrastructure was observed. Results In the thyroid of DM rats, follicular epithelial cells present as applanate shape, microvilli were depleted, rough endoplasmic reticulum dilated to irregular vesicular. None pinocytotic vacuole and casual primary or secondary lysosome were seen. Follicular cavity was dilated, colloid in the cavity had higher electronic-density. Interstitial edema, capillary base lamian was thickened at different stage. Proteo-substance deposition with granulo-shape, cloud shape or homogeneity appeared. The number of thyroid parafollicular cells increased. But endocrine granule in parafollicular cells was few. When compared with DM group, the thyroid tissue injury of insulin intervention group and aminoguanidine intervention group were lessened to different degree. Conclusion The hypofunctional thyroid follicular cells, large quantity of proteo-substance deposition in the interstitium and increased parafollicular cells of DM rats may be related with hyperglycemia toxicity. Insulin and aminoguanidine treatment have some protection effects.