Cartilages of 19 human fetuses were studied by microangiographic and histological methods. Blood vessels were enclosed in a special structure, the cartilage canal which were present in individual cartilages from 2～3 months of the fetus. The cartilage canals developed either from the superficial blood vessels which was gradually embedded in the cartilage as it grew, or blood vessels in the cartilage canal grew and divided themselve progressively and penetrated into the deeper part of the cartilage. In addition to the nutritional supply for the centers of the growth of cartilage, the cartilage canal participates directly in the osteogenesis of the secondary centers of ossification.

Objective To analyse the cloning and sequencing of mature fragment of human bone morphogenetic protein-4 gene. Methods The template DNA was extract from the human osteosarcoma cells line U-2OS by the single-step isolation method with isothiocyanic acid guanidine, the cDNA coding for the mature fragment of BMP-4 was amplified by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The mature fragment of BMP-4 was cloned into the vector pUC19, and sequenced by Sanger dideoxy-mediated chain termination method. Results The mature fragment of BMP-4 cDNA was obtained by RT-PCR and identified by sequencing. The computer search was done on Genebank, and the published DNA sequence of BMP-4 from Genebank (D30751) was chosen for a reference. Analysis showed that the homology and similarity of nucleotides and amino acids between cDNA of rhBMP-4 mature fragment and the published sequence of BMP-4 were both 99％ . Sequence analysis revealed that there were two bases mutations, one was at base 1 154(201) G C, this had no influence on the corresponding amino acids(Val), another was at base 1 222(269) C T, the mutation at the base 1 222 had turned the Ala into Val. Conclusion The mature fragment of BMP-4 gene has been cloned. The gene is of great significance in treatment of skeletal injuries and diseases.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder which seriously causes the dementia in elderly people and afflicts millions of people worldwide. Drug discovery for Alzheimer's disease therapy has been a hot research area and a big challenge, in which development of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors design was the most active and some AChE inhibitors are commercially available for AD medication already. However, practical using of commercial AChE inhibitors showed their limited usefulness and related adverse effects. Thus, it is extremely urgent to find novel AChE inhibitors with higher potency and less adverse effects. Based on the accurate crystallographic studies about AChE, strategies for multi-binding site AChE inhibitors have been formed, followed by design of the multi-target directed ligands. In this review, the structures and binding modes of commercial AChE inhibitors were briefly discussed, together with the development of AChE inhibitor design for AD therapy: from multi-binding site inhibitors to multi-target directed ligands.

ObjectiveTo study the cloning and sequencing of mature fragment of human bone morphogenetic protein-4 gene. Methods The template DNA was obtained from the human osteosarcoma cell line U2OS. By using RT- PCR method, the cDNA coding for the mature fragment of BMP-4 was amplified, cloned into the vector pUC19, and sequenced by Sanger Dideoxy-mediated Chain Termination method. Results The mature fragment of BMP4 cDNA was obtained by RT-PCR and determined by sequencing. Through the computer search on Genebank, the analysis showed that the homology of nucleotides and amino acids between cDNA of rhBMP4 mature fragment of this study and the published sequence was 99％. Sequence analysis showed that there were two differences, one was at base 1154 (201): G→C, which had no influence on the corresponding amino acids (Val). Another was at basel222 (269):C→T, the mutation at the base 1222 had the change of Ala to Val. Conclusion The mature fragment of BMP4 gene has been cloned. The results will be of great significance in treatment of skeletal injuries and diseases.

This is a retrospective study of 103 cases of early gastric cancer undergoing surgery during the years of 1974-1988 with a special discussion on surgical treatment.The lesions were localized to the mu-cosal layer in 54.3%,to submucosal layer in 45.7%,In 10% of patients there was lymphnode metastasis,all of them were in the first station.Operation consisted of radical subtotal gastrectomy in 94.2%.and total gastrectomy in 5.8%.The extent of lymphatic excision was:Ro in 12.6%,R1 in 61.2% and R2 in 26.2% Postoperative chemotherapy was given in 61.2%.However no statistical difference of 5 years survival rate was found in respect to the extent of lymphatic excision as well as postoperative chemotherapy.Since 60.2% of EGC lesions were of minute,multiple and plane type,preoperattve en-doscopy and intraoperative biopsy of gastric mucosa,if necessary,should be carefully done to ascertain that no lesion was overlooked in the remnant of the stomach.Follow-up rate was 96%,and the survival rates of 3 and 5 years were 97% and 93.7%.This makes the authors believe that a radical operation of R1 is justified and routine postoperative chemotherapy is unnecessary.

BACKGROUND: Apatite-wollastonite containing glass-ceramic (AWGC) is a kind of good bone repairing materials with excellent bioactivity, which is prepared by traditional melting process.OBJECTIVE: To observe AWGC prepared with sol-gel method and its bioactivity.DESIGN: Design experiment of materials process and in vitro bioactivity experiment.SETTING: College of materials science and Engineering of Sichuan University.MATERIALS: AWGC.METHODS: This experiment was conducted at the laboratory of College of Materials Science and Engineering of Sichuan University between August 2002 and May 2003. AWGC was prepared from sol-gel and followed by heattreating process. Bioactivity was investigated in vitro by immersing in the simulate body fluid (SBF) at 37 ℃ for 7 days . JL-1155 laser particle analyzer, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope were used for micro-morphological structure analysis.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①The crystalline structure and microstructure of sol-gel derived glass-ceramic② The apatite forming process in simulate body fluid③ The diameter of the pore of the sol-gel derived apatite/wollastonite glass-ceramicRESULTS: ①Main crystalline phases of the sol-gel derived glass-ceramic materials were hydroxyapatite/fluoroapatite [Ca10(PO4)6(OH, F)] and β-wollastonite[β-CaSiO3]; Microstructure contained many micro-pores of 2-3μ m;② Sol-gel derived AW glass ceramic had excellent bioactivity: plenty of apatite granules were generated on the surface of the material after soaking for 7 days. ③Porous scaffolds possessed good macro-porous structure with the interconnected macro pores of 300-400 μm in diameter;CONCLUSION: Apatite-wollastonite containing glass-ceramic (AWGC)with excellent bioactivity was developed by sol-gel process. The material is expected to be a good candidate for bone-repairing and bone tissue engineering scaffold materials.

BACKGROUND: Bone mineral content(BMC) can be determined by many methods, which are different in detecting position, clinical significance and differentiation between normal group and people with osteoporosis.OBJECTIVE: To establish a normal BMC standard by observing lumbar BMC with quantitative computerized tomography(QCT) measurement in Shenzhen women, so as to provide basis for clinical prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in the region.DESIGN: Randomized controlled, observational and comparative study taking normal women as subjects.SETTING: Medical imaging department of a hospital at district level.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 120 women aged 30 to 69 years, who received physical examination in the Central Hospital of Longgang district in Shenzhen from September 2000 to March 2002, were enrolled in this study. They were divided into four groups: 30 - 39 age group, 40 - 49 age group, 50 - 59 age group and 60 - 69 age group with 30 in each.METHODS: Trabecular and cortical BMC of lumber bodies(L1-3) were measured with QCT software so as to establish a standard of normal BMC in Shenzhen women and compare it with that of other regions.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The mean BMC in Shenzhen women, and comparison with that of other regions at home and abroad.RESULTS: The results of QCT showed linear correlation between BMC and bone ash weight, which could be expressed by the following linear regression equation: ash weight =0. 92432 × BMC + 39. 0633. Lumbar BMC loss increased with age in Shenzhen perimenopausal women. The annual loss of spongy bone and compact bones was 1.38% and 0. 84%, respectively. BMC of women aged 50 to 59 years was[ (135.31 ± 18.36) mg/cm3], obviously higher than that of women in Changchun city, Beijing city and the United States [(120.21 ±37.40), (116.7 ±26.6), and(119.5 ±27.1) mg/cm3]( t = 2. 002, 3. 383, 3. 636, P ＜ 0.05 - 0. 01 ) . Moreover, BMC of women aged 30 to 39 years was also obviously higher than that of corresponding American women( t = 3.119, P ＜ 0.01 ). No significant difference was found in BMC among women of the other age groups in these regions( P ＞ 0. 05).CONCLUSION: This is the first time in our country to establish a standard of normal BMC in perimenopausal women with QCT measurement, which provides basis for early prevention and treatment of osteoporosis as well as evaluation of prognosis and fracture risk.

2.83 cm(left-right).The density of lymphocele was homogeneous ,with 0~15 HU(mean value,5.7HU).Adjacent organs were displaced by compression of lymphocele.Conclusion It should be diagnosed as a lymphocele if a pelvic cyst is found in postoperation of pelvic malignant tumor.

Objective To assess the accuracy of SIEMENS Osteo software.Methods The mineral content of 20 cadaver lumber bodies(L 1～L 5) was measured by quantitative CT,and compared with bone ash analysis.Results Mineral content and bone ash weight had a linear correlation,which could be expressed by followed regress equation:ash weight=0.92432?BMD+39.0633.The results with quantitative CT method were all lower than that with bone ash analysis (average lower 29.196 mg/cm 3).Conclusion There are some deviations for measuring bone mineral content with this software.The deviation is within the limit of the theory error of single energy quantitative CT.The result of the measurement shoud be accurate after proofread.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the past 5 years' clinic experience of diagnosis and treatment of the pediatric soft-tissue foreign body (STFB),and to probe new strategies for its clinical management.MethodsTotally 165 consecutive children with small radiopaque STFB were involved.All the children were diagnosed with X-rays.CT (enhanced CT in 9 children)and virtual anatomy imaging (VAI) were performed in 40 children.Percutaneous foreign body forceps removal guided with C-arm video-fluoroscopy was performed and the effect was evaluated.ResultsThe longest dimension of STFB ranged from 1 mm to 40 mm,and the shortest dimension ranged from 1 mm to 5 mm,including scrap-iron,broken iron nails and needles,and glass pieces embedded in soft tissues under surface of the limbs,neck,chest,abdomen and pelvis.Seventy-six (76/165,46.06 ％) children received interventional therapy,and 73 were completely cured (73/76,96.05 ％),2 were partially cured (2/76,2.63 ％),and 1 was failed (1/76,1.32 ％).VAI accurately depicted STFB closely to large vessels even associated vascular complication with local large hematomas or pseudoaneurysms,helped to select the treatment methods and the forceps removal roads.Hematoma,infection,neural damages and other serious complications did not occur during and after operation.ConclusionVideo-fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous foreign body forceps removal is minimally invasive,safe and effective for small radiopaque STFBs,but may not suitable for the one very close to large blood vessels with or without vascular injuries complications.Preoperative CT VAI is helpful to locate STFB within complicated anatomic structures,selecting optimal intervention pathway and assessing the risk of intervention.