The application of genetic engineering technology in modern agriculture shows its outstanding role in dealing with food shortage. Traditional medicinal plant cultivation and collection have also faced with challenges, such as lack of resources, deterioration of environment, germplasm of recession and a series of problems. Genetic engineering can be used to improve the disease resistance, insect resistance, herbicides resistant ability of medicinal plant, also can improve the medicinal plant yield and increase the content of active substances in medicinal plants. Thus, the potent biotechnology can play an important role in protection and large area planting of medicinal plants. In the development of medicinal plant genetic engineering, the safety of transgenic medicinal plants should also be paid attention to. A set of scientific safety evaluation and judgment standard which is suitable for transgenic medicinal plants should be established based on the recognition of the particularity of medicinal plants.
Genetic Engineering ; Plant Diseases ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; chemistry ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism

AIM: To study the protective effect of bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) on ischemia /reperfusion hippocampal slices. METHODS: Ischemia/reperfusion models of hippocampal slices from newborn rats were established. MSCs obtained from adult bone marrow were cultured, isolated and purified. Cell death was assessed using propidium iodide fluorescence. And brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in MSCs was determined by immunocytochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: Maximal dead cells appeared in hippocampal slices 3 to 7 days after reperfusion. When the slices were co-cultured with MSCs, only a few cells were dead. The protective effect of MSCs on the slices was diminished significantly when anti-BDNF antibody was added to the medium. The protein of BDNF was faintly expressed in MSCs under normal conditions. When MSCs were co-cultured with ischemia /reperfusion hippocampal slices, the expression of BDNF in MSCs was increased gradually especially when co-cultured for 3 to 7 days. However, MSCs co-cultured with normal hippocampal slices expressed BDNF at a lower level at any times of co-culture. CONCLUSIONS: In an in vitro model of simulated ischemia, MSCs reduce cell death. Ischemia/reperfusion hippocampal slices co-cultured with MSCs promote the expression of BDNF in MSCs, which in turn protect the ischemic neurons.

Androgen deprivation therapy can effectively suppress the progression of prostate cancer, but accumulating evidence for the relationship of testosterone with prostate cancer challenges the conventional wisdom. High levels of testosterone are not risk factors for prostate cancer, nor promote its development. On the contrary, a low testosterone level indicates a worse pathological stage. So far there has been no strong evidence to prove the role of testosterone in the occurrence and progression of prostate cancer. Therefore, the relationship between testosterone and prostate cancer is quite complicated and deserves further investigation.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Testosterone

China ; Death ; Humans ; Tissue and Organ Procurement

Biological performances of Ni-Cr porcelain alloy are highly correlated with released metallic ions. Released metal ions from Ni-Cr porcelain alloy, particularly Ni, Be can induce inflammation of the adjacent periodontal tissue and oral mucosa. In vitro evidence has indicated that the immune response can be altered by various metal ions. Allergic reactions due to metallic dental restorations have been documented. Ni has especially been identified as being highly allergenic. The cytotoxicity and corrosion level of Ni-Cr porcelain alloy is increased after recasting. The Ni-Cr porcelain alloy produced according to technology requirements has good biological safety. Ni-Cr porcelain alloy released a few of metal ions which might induce allergy and density of adjacent periodontal tissues, for the stimulation effect of these metal ions. There is no evidence to suggest that Ni-Cr porcelain alloy restorations has systemic toxicity or carcinogenic/genotoxic effect to human.

Objective　To investigate the effect of amniotic membrane on the proliferation of YAC-1 in vitro. Methods　The YAC-1 cells were cultured with amniotic membrane and their proliferation were observed by MTT automated colorimetry on the lst day， the 3rd day and the 7th day respectively.Results　Amniotic membrane could significantly enhance the proliferation of YAC-1 on the lst day, the 3rd day and the 7th day respectively after having been seeded (P＜0.01).Conclusion　Amniotic membrane can enhance the proliferation of tumor cells (YAC-1), which should be paid attention to during amniotic membrane transplantation for treating ocular surface lesion caused by epibulbar tumors. ［Rec Adv Ophthalmol 2000;20(5)∶317-318］

Objective To explore the value of endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage (NPD) in the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP) in a high-risk population.Methods From April 2009 to February 2012,a total of 105 cases of PEP high risk population were collected and divided into non NPD group (n=58) and NPD group (n=47) according to the situation during the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) operation.NPD was placed in NPD group,the head of the drainage passed the neck of pancreas under X-ray.Nasobiliary drainage or no drainage was assigned to the group of non NPD group according to the situation during operation.x2 test and t-test were performed for comparing and analyzing the clinical data before and post operation,the incidence and risk ratio of PEP between the two groups.Results Twenty-four hours after ERCP,the mean level of serum amylase at 24 h (t=2.419),the degree of abdominal pain (t3h=2.585,t24h=7.236) and relief time (t=4.996) of NPD group were better than those of non NPD group (all P＜0.05).The incidence of PEP in NPD group was 6.7％(3/45) and non NPD group was 29.3 ％ (17/58),the incidence of PEP in the NPD group was significantly lower than that in the non NPD group (x2 =8.304,P＜0.01),and the relative risk was 0.172 (95％CI:0.047 to 0.632,P＜0.01).Conclusion The regular placement of endoscopic NPD is a practical,effective and easy way to prevent PEP in high risk population.

Objective To investigate expression of 14-3-3 sigma gene in patients with breast cancer and its clinical significance.Methods Expression of 14-3-3 sigma gene was semi-quantitated by using RT-PCR and western-blot in 40 specimens of breast cancer and 18 specimens benign breast disease tissue.Results Of 40 cases of breast cancer 35(87.5%)were negative for 14-3-3 sigma gene in RT-PCR,32(80%)were negative in Western-blot,and 31(77.5%)were negative in both RT-PCR and western-blot.Besides,the expression in 2 cases was down-regulation in both the 2 method.In 18 specimens with benign breast disease tissue the expression of 14-3-3 sigma gene was detectable,which was demonstrated by RT-PCR or western-blot.Conclusion Inactivation and down-regulation of 14-3-3 sigma gene is a frequent event in breast cancer,and it may contribute to diagnosis of breast cancer.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinicopathological features of the needle biopsies of prostatic lesions and to evaluate the value of 34?E12 immunostaining for the diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma.MethodsThe clinical data,levels of serum PSA and HE slides of 103 cases of the needle biopsies of prostatic lesions were reviewed.Immunohistochemical stains for 34?E12 were performed.ResultsThe morphological features revealed 36 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH),9 cases of low grade prostastic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN I)and 34 cases of prostatic carcinoma(PC),24 cases of high grade PIN(PINⅡ and Ⅲ) have been suspected of carcinoma.With immunohistochemical stain,all cases of BPH were strongly reactive for 34?E12 while 32 cases of prostatic carcinoma were negative;14 of 24 cases of high grade PIN were negative for 34?E12 and could be diagnosed as PC.The rest 10 of high grade PIN were interruptedly positive in the basal layer for 34?E12.In the 30 cases of prostastic carcinoma,serum PSA levels of 25 cases was over 10 ng/ml and over 50 ng/ml in 15.ConclusionsThe pathologic diagnosis should based on gland architectures and cytologic features.34?E12 negative expression and elevation of serum PSA are also the important criteria for the diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma.

It is known that patients with vitiligo often have antibodies to melanocytes. In order to identify vitiligo antibodies react to corresponding antigens, we used cultured normal human melanocytes to react with sera from 48 patients with vitiligo, the result showed that 52% of patients with vitiligo have antibodies to cell-surface antigens of melanocytes. Then immunoprecipitation and SDS-PAGE analysis were used to reveal molecular weights (MW) of the antigens, the result showed that the MW are about 75 000, 90 000, 110 000, and 150 000.