Objective　 To investigate the Mahaim's fibers of the cardiac con duction system (CCS) of human hearts and study their morphological features. Methods　 The CCS from 165 cases of sudden death without extracardiac causes and tho se from 760 cases of non-cardiac death were sampled using a method established by the authors. Serial sections were prepared for histological observation. Results　 Mahaim's fibers were discovered in 7 cases, 5 cases were in the sudden dea th group, accounting for 3% in that group, 2 cases were in the non-cardiac deat h group, accounting for 0.26% in that group. All cases belonged to the bundle-ve n tricular branch type. The characteristics of Mahaim's fibers were found to be a s follows. Their transverse diameter was 10～35 microns. The bodies of the Mahaim 's fibers that originated from A-V bundle were slender with nucleus in the middle of the cell. While the shape of cells from the left bundle branch varied accord ing to the origin of the Mahaim's fiber with size enlarging from up downward. B oth types of cells showed abundant lightly stained cytoplasm, similar to A-V bu n dle and left bundle branch cells. The cells were not bifurcated and some of them were surrounded by a thin layer of fibrous tissue. Conclusion　 Mahaim's fibers are not a rarity and it is an abnormal development of an A-V by-path.

Objective:To understand the molecular pat hophysiology of hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatic cancer.Methods: We studied novel gene expression by cDNA microarray method. The PCR pro ducts of 4 096 genes and 12 800 gene were spotted onto a kind of chemical-mater ial-coated-glass slide in array. Both the mRNAs from 5 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and 3 cases of pancreatic cancer were reversely transcribed to cDNAs with the incorporation of fluorescent-labeled dUTP to prepare the hybridization probes. After hybridization, BioDoor4096 and BioDoor12800 cDNA microarray were scanned for the fluorescent intensity. Tumor invasion-related gene expression w as screened through the analysis of difference in gene expression profile.Results:Among 4 096 and 12 800 target genes, there were 15 genes who se expression level differed from normal and carcinoma tissues. Therefore, they might be associated with metastasis.Conclusion:Further analysis of these differentially expressed metastasis-associated genes will be helpful for understanding the molecular mechanism of malignant carcinoma.

Chemical constituents of n-butanol part of ethanol extract from the leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus (Batalin) Iljinskaja were studied.Eight glycosides were separated and purified by silica gel, MCI, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography.Based on the physicochemical properties and spectral data, these compounds were 3-ethyl-4-methyl-pentyl ester-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), juglanoside E (2), (4S)-α-terpineol-8-O-α-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), (4S)-α-terpineol-8-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), eugenyl-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl methylester (6), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside (7), and quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside (8).Among them, compound 1 was a new compound, and compounds 2-6 were isolated from the genus Cyclocarya for the first time.

In order to investigate the chemical constituents of glycosides in Piper sintenense Hatusima, column chromatographic techniques such as silica gel, ODS, MCI GEL CHP20P, Sephadex LH-20, and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography were used to afford nine glycosides from the n-butanol part of the 95% ethanol extract of Piper sintenense Hatusima. Based on the physicochemical properties and NMR data, the above compounds were identified as (2S)-2-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-propanone-2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), 2-phenylethyl β-D-glucopyranoside (2), benzyl α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1''→6')-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), benzyl β-D-xylopyanosyl-(1''→6')-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), phenethyl β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1''→ 2')-β-D-glucopyranoside(5), salidroside (6), phenethanol β-D-xylopyanosyl-(1''→6')-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), (Z)-hexenyl-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1''→6')-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), (Z)-hexenyl-O-β-D-xylopyanosyl-(1''→6')-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9). Compound 1 was identified as a new compound, and compounds 3-9 were isolated from the genus Piper for the first time.