The initial definition of stress and its development were briefly retrospected with elucidating the significance of stress in life sciences study. Stress is involved in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes. Description of the advances focusing on the relationships between stress and several body systems including nervous system, immune system and cardiovascular system etc. and on the stress molecules and signal transduction was carried out. The ultimate aim of the review is to emphasize the importance and the distinct position of stress during the development of modern bio-medicine, and to further attract more attention to the research field of stress from more scientists.

G protein-coupled receptors(GPCRs) are the largest and most diverse group of trans-membrane proteins involved in signal transduction. They have been playing key roles in drug discover-y. Increasing orphan GPCRs (oGPCRs) whose endogenous ligands and functions are still to be identified have been discovered in recent years. It is obvious that oGPCRs might be the most important targets for innovating drugs.

Aim To establish a screening system of orphan G protein-coupled receptors (oGPCRs) for their ligands based on monitoring [Ca 2+]_i in engineered cells. Methods The whole ORF of a member of human oGPCR, designated human G-protein-coupled receptor c (hGPCRc), was amplified by RT-PCR from human colon tissue and its structure was analyzed with softwares. CHO-K_1 cells were transfected with the recombinant pcDNA 3.1(+)-hGPCRc to obtain engineered CHO-hGPCRc cells. As fluorescence probe, Fluo-3 was used in assaying the [Ca 2+]_i changes induced by different compounds in the CHO- hGPCRc cells.Results Bioinformatic analysis showed that hGPCRc was localized at 13q32.2, and its corresponding amino acids formed seven-transmembrane domains and was close to human P2Y_1 receptor. It was indicated that hGPCRc was a new member of human GPCR. CHO- hGPCRc cells expressing hGPCRc were obtained successfully but no one was able to activate hGPCRc among the tested compounds indicated by the [Ca 2+]_i changes. Conclusion Although hGPCRc was even though close to human P2Y_1 receptor, it can not be activated by the known compounds which activate the P2Y_1 receptor. hGPCRc might be a new member of purine receptor family but dose not belong to P2Y_1 subfamily.

Objective To screen out single chain variable fragment antibody (scFv)specific to vascular cell adhesion mole‐cule 1(Vcam‐1)from phage recombinant antibody library ,and to evaluate its activity and compare its activity with full‐length monoclonal antibody.Methods Amplification of Vcam‐1 was performed by PCR and Vcam‐1 gene plasmid was transferred into eukaryotic cells to express Vcam‐1 antigen protein.Immune cuvette was coated with purified Vcam‐1 antigen ,and the positive clones were screened out by 4 rounds of “adhesion‐elution‐proliferation” process with gradually increasing pressure.The posi‐tive clones were tested by ELISA method and high titer clones were chosen for gene sequencing.Then the high‐titer clones were transferred into E.coli ,and the clone with the highest expression was regarded as the final requisite one.Competent cells were infected by the final requisite clone and scFv was expressed.After purification ,the activity of scFv was tested by ELISA and its affinity was evaluated.Results Molecular weight of Vcam‐1 antigen protein was 85-90 kD.Positive clones were screened out by taking Vcam‐1 protein as the antigen ,and 9 high titer clones were obtained by single phage ELISA.Gene sequencing of these clones was carried out and 3 sequences were obtained ,1 of which got the highest expression.Molecular weight of the expressed scFv was about 30 kD.The scFv got high affinity to Vcam‐1 antigen according to ELISA ,in spite of its lower activity than full‐length monoclonal antibody.Conclusion scFv antibody specific to Vcam‐1 was successfully obtained from phage display librar‐y ,which laid the foundation of subsequent in vivo diagnosis and therapy.

Early detection and accurate evaluation of vulnerable plaques is important to clinical prevention and in time intervention of atherosclerosis plaque rupture,which is the main reason of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular emergency events.Molecular imaging reveals the formation and progression mechanisms of atherosclerosis at the molecular level,and thus has obvious superiority in early detection and evaluation of vulnerable plaques.Suitable targets are the major contents of molecular probe research.Probes of different imaging modalities have been used to detect vulnerable plaques.The targets including low density lipoprotein,macrophage,adhesion molecule,micro calcification,activated protease,apoptosis,proliferation gene,integrin and thrombus.The mechanism of detecting different targets is different,and the effectiveness varies as well.This review summarizes the development of imaging probes for molecular detection of atherosclerosis vulnerable plaques.

The safety of hEPO gene therapy was assessed. No env gene of retrovirus was detected in the EPO-transgenic myoblasts and fibroblasts by PCR detection. Malignant transformation of transgenic cells was ruled out by various examinations including cell morphology, chromosome karyotype, soft-agar test, nude mice test and pathology. All the assessments primarily demonstrated that EPO gene therapy mediated by retrovirus was safe.

Objective To compare the accuracy of quantitative CT(QCT), perfusion scintigraphy and anatomical segmentation in predicting postoperative lung function in lung cancer patients. Methods Pulmonary functional tests, quantitative CT scan and perfusion seintigraphy in 12 cases before operation were performed. Forced vital capacity (FVC), the first second forced expiratory volume (FEV1.0) and diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLco) were obtained from preoperative pulmonary functional tests. According to the corresponding formula for QCT, perfusion sintigraphy and anatomical segmentation method, the values of FVC, FEV1.0 and DLco were predicted. The correlation between the predicted values and postoperative values of FVC, FEV1.0 and DLco were assessed. The paired-t test,Pearson correlation test and Bland-Altman analysis were used for the statistics. Results The predicted values of QCT, perfusion sintigraphy and anatomical segmentation method were: FVC [(3.05±0.82), (2.98±0.75) and (2.98±0.86) L,respectively] , FEV1.0[(2.20±0.81), (2.17±0.78) and (2.16±0.84) L, respectively], DLco (FVC: r=0.87, 0.80 and 0.86; FEV1.0:r =0.93, 0.91 and 0.93; DLco:r =0.93, 0.95 and 0.93,respectively,P < 0.01). Conclusion QCT, perfusion sintigraphy and anatomical segmentation method can be used in predicting postoperative lung function. The predicted values are in concordance with the postoperative ones.

AIM: To investigate the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in human endothelial cells, and their effects on plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 transcription. METHODS: The expression of three types of PPARs in mRNA level were detected in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) by using RT-PCR. Cultured endothelial cells line-ECV304 were transfected with PAI-1 promoter controlling CAT reporter gene and co-transfected with varying doses (250, 500, 1 000 ng) of expression vectors PPAR? or PPAR?.The transcripton activity of PAI-1 promoter were detected with ELISA. RESULTS: There were all three types of PPARs mRNA expression in HUVECs, while the expression of PPAR? was less than that of PPAR?( P

Since the study of the mechanism of breast cancer occurrence and development deepens, breast cancer stem cells are receiving more and more attention. Studies have shown that a group of breast cancer stem cells were undifferentiated, with self-renewal and multi-differentiation potential. These cells have a resistance to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hypoxic, high tumorigenic, high invasion and metastasis. In breast cancer's recurrence,development, and even metastasis, they play an extremely important role. In-depth study of breast cancer stem cell related signal transduction pathways and the regulation of microenvironment are meaningful for clinical targeted treatment of breast cancer. Therefore, we summarized the latest development on breast cancer stem cells in the treatment of breast cancer.

Objective To investigate the effect of activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ ( PPARβ/δ)on protein synthesis and expression of angiotensin (Ang)Ⅱ-induced hypertrophic myocytes(MC) in vitro.Methods Hypertrophy in neonatal rat cardiac MC culture was established with AngⅡ, then the effect of GW0742 on hypertrophy was detected.The synthetic rate of protein in MC was detected by 3 H-leucine incorporation.mRNA and protein expression of atrial natriuretic IL-1βwas measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) and Western-blotting. Results and Conclusion GW0742 could reduce the synthetic rate of protein in hypertrophic MC while down-regulating the mRNA and protein expression of IL-1β, but no changes were observed after treatment with DMSO.The result demonstrated that activation of PPAR beta/delta inhibited cardiac hypertrophy in vitro and this effect might be related to inflammatory factors.