Objective To investigate the association of the gene polymorphism of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase(eNOS) with pregnancy induced hypertension(PIH). Methods Sixty-six gravidas with PIH and 91 normal pregnant women(control) in the third trimester were investigated. The G894T mutation at exon 7 of the endothelial nitric-oxide synthase gene was studied by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results The frequencies of eNOS GG, GT and TT genotypes were 62.1%, 34.8% and 3.1% in PIH group and (79.1%,) 20.9% and 0.0% in control group, respectively (P0.05). Conclusions The variant (G-T) of 894 polymorphism site of eNOS is associated with the genesis of PIH, but not related to the severity of PIH. T allele may be a susceptible gene to PIH.

BACKGROUND: Fibroblasts are considered as seed cells necessary for the construction of tissue engineering skin. The ultrastructure of cells of various generations was observed under the electron microscope in the hope of providing foundation for proper selection of seed cells for tissue engineering skin.OBJECTIVE: To observe the ultrastructural changes of normal human fibroblasts during in vitro culture.DESIGN: Self-control observation.SETTING: Institute of Plastic Surgery, Weifang Medical College; Department of General Surgery affiliated to Weifang Medical College.MATERIALS: This experiment was carried out in the Institute of Plastic Surgery, Weifang Medical College, between September 2000 and September 2002. Healthy prepuce specimens were collected during posthetomy from normal boys aged 6-8 years after the informed consent was obtained from their guardians.METHODS: The normal human diploid fibroblasts were used to carry out consecutive subculture; cells were collected from different generations for morphological and ultrastructural observation under the inverted phase contrast microscope and transmission electron microscope.ture under the transmission electron microscope.microscope: Cells could pass on for 65-70 generations and survive for 280-300 days. Cells within 45 generations could grow rapidly, but gradually grew slowly after the 45th generation, and even displayed no proliferaunder the transmission electron microscope: There were no obvious changes in cell ultrastructure within 40 generations, but cells presented inward tolds of nucleus membrane from the onset of generations 41-65, with the ratio of cell nuclear/plasma reduced as well as cell surface process and microvilli also reduced.CONCLUSION: The ultrastructural change of in vitro cultured fibroblasts varied between different generations, which became obvious after the 41st generation, suggesting that fibroblasts within 40 generations are considered preferable seed cells for the construction of tissue engineering skin.

Objective To observe inhibiting effect of endostatin on subcutaneous transplant tumor of breast carcinoma, and to illuminate the therapeutic effect of endostatin in the cancer. Methods The effect of en-dostatin on MCF-7 cell proliferation was studied by MTr. The model of MCF-7 cell transplant tumor on nude mice was constructed. Endostatin was injected intradermally around the transplant tumor. Inhibition effect on the tumor was observed. Results Endostatin with the concentration of 10 μ/mL and 15 μg/mL can inhibitMCF-7 cell proliferation effectively (P < 0. 05 ). After endostatin injection, tumor weight, volume and mi-crovessel density decreased significantly(P < 0.05 ). Conclusion Endostatin can inhibit breast carcinoma proliferation through inhibiting angiogenesis and the tumor cell itself.

Objective To investigate the proper inner control genes suitable for mRNA expression level comparison of aging rat tissues.Methods Real-time reverse transcription PCR was used to examine in aging rat tissues the expression level of G3pd(glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase),ACTB(?-actin),H3f3b(H3 histone,family 3B),Arbp(acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P0)and 18S(18S ribosomal RNA).Results The most stably expressed housekeeping gene in aging rat kidney was ACTB,in heart and lung G3pd showed the minimum variation;Arbp expression was the most stable one in different tissues.Conclusion For aging rat intra-tissue mRNA normalization at least two housekeeping genes should be used: one is the ribosomal RNA gene 18S and another one is Arbp.

Objective To study the differences of chromosomal structure among Yersinia pestis strains isolated from China,and to investigate the reasons of chromosomal rearrangement events occurred in Yersinia pestis as well as the possibility of strain identification and phylogenetic analysis based on the chromosomal rearrangement features.Methods According to the genome sequence data downloaded from web of National Center for Biotechnology Information (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome),alignment of all the coding sequences (CDSs) among five strains(American strain CO92 as reference and other four completely sequenced strains from Inner Mongolia,Jianchuan of Yunnan,Yulong of Yunnan,Naqu of Tibet in China named 91001,D182038,D106004 and Z176003 as comparison strains) was performed,and then the chromosome of Yersinia pestis was divided into several large DNA segments (named chromosomal plate in the text) according to the similarity of CDSs.Plate arrangement patterns in each strain' s chromosome and gene content of breakpoint regions were determined.Finally,genetic relationships among Yersinia pestis strains were analyzed on the basis of rearrangement diversity from paired-comparison.Results Yersinia pestis chromosomes of strains CO92,D182038,D106004,91001 were composed of 44 relatively independent plates,except strain Z176003.Gene order was very stable within each plate,while it was movable between the plates.Comparing with the reference strain CO92,13 rearrangement events occurred in the chromosomes of both strain D182038 and strain D106004,and 14 rearrangement events involved in Z176003,while 37 rearrangement events occurred in 91001.Paired-comparison data showed that only 8 plates order differences were existed between D106004 and Z176003.Forty-three breakpoint regions were identified on the chromosome of strain CO92,and 39 of them contained insertion sequences,and 25 of them were IS100.Conclusions Yersinia pestis genome represents a high degree of genetic flux,and chromosomal structures of strains are significantly different from each other.Chromosomal rearrangement events is closely related to the large number of insertion sequences in the Yersinia pestis chromosome.Rearrangement diversity among Yersinia pestis strains could reflect their genetic relationships.

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BACKGROUND:Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS),a chitin derivative,has a good application performance that makes it become a safe and effective hemostatic material.OBJECTIVE:To determine the hemostatic effect of CMCS and its biosecurity properties.METHODS:(1) CMCS powder was scattered on the caudal vein and liver wounds of Sprague-Dawley rats,and the hemostatic time was recorded as experimental group,while the time for natural haemostasis of the wound was recorded as control group.(2) CMCS powder was scattered on the tail,femoral artery and liver wounds of ICR mice,and the hemostatic time was recorded as experimental group,while the time for natural haemostasis of the wound was recorded as control group.(3) CMCS,Sodium dodecyl sulfate solution and distilled water were respectively applied on the skin of albino rabbits in a skin irritation test.(4) A delayed-type hypersensitivity test of CMCS was carried out by intradermal injection of CMCS in guinea pigs.(5) An intradermal irritation test was carried out by subcutaneous injection of normal saline containing CMCS and normal saline,respectively.Another intradermal irritation test was carried out by subcutaneous injection of the supernatant of CMCS olive oil extract and olive oil,respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Compared with the control group,the hemostatic time for caudal vein and liver wounds were significantly shortened in the Sprague-Dawley rats in the experimental group (P ＜ 0.01).(2) Compared with the control group,the time of hemostasis on the tail,femoral artery and liver wounds was significantly shortened in the ICR mice in the experimental group (P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01).(3) The CMCS had no irritation to the skin of albino rabbits and no allergic reaction to the skin of guinea pigs.To conclude,the CMCS has good hemostatic effect on the wound in Sprague-Dawley rats and ICR mice,and has no skin irritation,allergic reactions and intradermal irritation reactions in albino rabbits and guinea pigs,which is a relatively safe hemostatic material.

AIM: The aim of the present study is to investigate changes of five biochemical markers of bone turnover during the formation of ovariectomized rat model. METHODS: Three-month-old female SD rats were divided randomly into ovariectomized (OVX) group, sham-operated (sham) group and control group. Five biochemical markers of bone turnover levels, including serum osteocalcin (OC), total alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and hydroxyproline (HYP) were measured before and at 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3 and 4 months after surgery. The right proximal tibias of rats were excised at the same time point for histopathological observation. RESULTS: Serum OC, ALP, BALP, TRAP and HYP levels in OVX group were significantly higher than that in sham group. As regard to the time of peak level arrived, the sequence of changes was as follows: TRAP/HYP→OC→ALP/BALP. There was a significant positive correlation between five markers. The pathological changes of trabecular bone in OVX group were only observed 3 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that postmenopausal osteoporosis has a high bone turnover rate. During the formation of ovariectomized rat model, changes of bone resorption markers precede changes of bone formation markers. Serum OC, ALP, BALP, TRAP and HYP are sensitive to evaluate the bone loss in the earlier stage of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Purpose To investigate the expression of FABP5 in oligodendroglioma and its clinic pathological significance.Methods Immunostaining of FABP5 and Ki-67 were performed in 87 oligodendrogliomas and 23 paracancerous brain tissues.The relationships between FABP5 expression and Ki-67 expression or clinic pathological parameters were statistically analyzed.Patients were followed up after operation.Results (1) The expression of FABP5 was significantly higher in oligodendroglioma [63.2％ (55/87)] than that in normal control [34.8％ (8/23)].(2)The expression of FABP5 was positively correlated with the histological grade (P =0.018,rs =0.254) and the Ki-67 expression (P =0.003,rs =0.318) in oligodendroglioma.(3) Univariate analysis showed that the expression of FABP5 protein,Ki-67 protein,age and chemotherapy were significant prognostic factors for oligodendroglioma patients.Conclusion FABP5 may play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of oligodendroglioma,and could be used as a novel biological indicator of disease progress as well as prognosis for oligodendroglioma patients.

Transforming growth factor-?1 (TGF-?1) was reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma in many stu-dies.It can stimulate the growth of fibroblast and give rise to fibrosis of lung tissues.Many scholars think that TGF-?1 is closely related to airway remodeling.It is a breakthrough to aim at TGF-?1 to find a way to intervene remodeling in asthma.Glucocorticoid (Dexamethasone and Budesonide) can have an impact in some extent to airway remodeling.In addition,interferon-? and some traditional chinese medicine such as ligustrazine,tripterygium wilfordii and ginkgo maybe effective,they all may ameliorate the progression of airway remodeling following redu-cing partial airway TGF-?1 expression.