Paternity testing has to be cautiously practiced,since it involves issues coming from all aspects including ethics,legislation,family and society.If the educational backgrounds of the litigants prevent them from fully understanding the ethical and legal issues involved in paternal testing,it would thus be impossible to achieve a real "informed consent" for the litigants.It is our point of view that in these cases,and when no alternative solutions are available,it is the responsibility of those who perform paternity testing to advise the litigants give up the application for paternity test.Besides,it is time for judicial departments to place on the agenda the establishing of a technique standard for paternity testing and relevant judicial procedures,in order to protect the basic rights of informal consent and autonomy of litigants in paternity testing practices.It is in this article that some ethical and legal issues commonly involved in paternity testing are discussed.

Adolescent ; Anemia, Aplastic ; complications ; therapy ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; chemically induced ; complications ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans

AIM: To establish the quality standard for Compound Lonicera Granules. METHODS: Fructus Forsythiae was identified by TLC.Chlorogenic acid and Baicalin were determined by HPLC. RESULTS: Fructus Forsythiae could be detected by TLC. Chlorogenic acid showed a good linear relationship at a range of 0.108～0.649?g,r=0.9999. The average recovery was 100.87%,and RSD was 1.28%.The linearity of baicalin was found in the range of 0.156～1.400?g.The average recovery was 101.31%, and RSD was 0.32%. CONCLUSION: The established methods are simple,quick and good reproductive. This study provids a method for the quality control of Compound Lonicera Granules.

Objective: To study the antitussive, expectorant and antiasthetic effects of Fortunella hindsii leaves. Methods: The antitussive effects were observed by the method of ammonia-induced cough in mice, the expectorant effects were observed by the method of phenolsulfonphthalein excretion in mice, and the antiasthmatic effects were observed by the method of histamine phosphate spray in guinea pigs. Results:The leaves of Fortunella hindsii at low, medium and high doses could decrease the cough times and prolong the cough latent period (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01), high dose could promote the phenol red excretion (P<0. 05), and high and medium do-ses could prolong the incubation period of guinea pigs for asthma caused by histamine phosphate (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). Conclu-sion:The leaves of Fortunella hindsii have promising antitussive, expectorant and antiasthmatic effects.

Objective To determine the changes in action potential peak value and maximal nerve conduction velocity of rabbit sciatic nerve after being exposed to different doses of high intensity ultrasound (HIU) and establish the experimental basis for the use of HIU in patients with refractory pain. Methods Eighty New Zealand white rabbits of either sex weighing 2.0-2.5 kg, aged 5-10 months were randomly divided into four groups with 20 rabbits in each group :group Ⅰ 0 second;group Ⅱ 15 seconds;group Ⅲ 25 seconds and group Ⅳ 50 seconds. The animals were anesthetized and placed in the prone position. Sciatic nerves were exposed to 4 different doses of HIU (7.1 MHz, 40 W/cm2 f55 0 s, 15 s, 25 s, 50 s) in the four groups. The animals were allowed to recover. At 5 intervals (1 and 2 weeks, 1, 3 and 6 months) after exposure to HIU, 4 animals in each group were anesthetized and recording electrodes were placed on sciatic nerves at 2 cm distal to the site of HIU radiation, tibial and sural cutaneous nerves. The amplitude (peak value) and latency of action potential and maximal conduction velocity of the nerves were recorded. Sciatic nerves were obtained from one of the four animals for light and electron microscopic examination. Results The larger was the dose of HIU, the more time was needed for the injuried nerve to recover. In group Ⅰ (0 s) there were no significant changes in action potential peak value and maximal nerve conduction velocity at any interval after exposure to HIU;in group Ⅱ (15 s) there were slight changes in the electrophysiological parameters and the changes recorded on tibial nerve returned to normal soon while those recorded on sural cutaneous nerve returned to normal one month later; in group Ⅲ (25 s) there were significant changes in the electrophysiological parameters and it took 3 months for tibial nerve but 6 months for sural cutaneous nerve to recover;in group Ⅳ (50s) the nerves were completely blocked, no action potential was recorded and no recovery was observed after 6 months. Light and electron microscopic examination showed that in group 1 no significant changes of nerves were observed; in group Ⅱ there was slight deformation of myelin sheath which returned to normal 2 weeks later; in group Ⅲ sheath was broken or lost, and axon degeneration was observed at 1 week after exposure to HIU and the changes disappeared 1 month later; in group Ⅳ necrosis of the nerve was observed and no recovery was observed 6 months later. Conclusion HIU can be used for the treatment of refractory pain. Analgesia can be achieved with loss of only part of motor function. The nerve can be permanently blocked by HIU if necessary.

Objective To explore the protocol of tissue matching and anti-rejection therapy in highly sensitized patients (HSP). Method The panel reactive antibody (PRA), human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching and renal transplantation outcomes of 45 HSPs were retrospectively analyzed. Results Hyperacute rejection occurred in 2 patients. Acute rejection occurred in 9 patients and reversed by anti-rejection therapy. One year patient/graft survival rate was 95.6% / 91.1% respectively. Conclusions To avoid specific antibody through HLA matching is the key point for successful renal transplantation of HSP. Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) induction therapy combined with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil therapy can decrease the rate of acute rejection and prolong graft survival.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of injectable osteoinductive material with fibrin sealant(FS) as a carrier compounded with bovine bone morphogenetic protein(bBMP) and bovine fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) for radial defect in dogs.Methods A total of 12 dogs were used in this study.The animals were randomly divided into treatment and control groups with 6 in each.We created a 20-mm bone defect at the upper radius of each dog,and then sutured the subcutaneous tissues and skin around the lesion.After the operation,FS(control) and FS+bFGF+bBMP were given to the two groups respectively by percutaneous injection.To compare the efficacy of the injections,we examined the animals by radiography in 4,8,16,and 24 weeks.The dogs were sacrificed in 24 weeks to obtain the specimens of the bone defect for histological examination and bone mineral density(BMD) determination.Results Radiography showed callus formation in 4 weeks and then osteoneogenesis in 24 weeks in the treatment group;whereas,in the control group,no callus was found around the defect in 24 weeks.In the treatment group,the mean BMD of the diseased radius was significantly higher than that of the healthy leg and that in the control group [(456.33?13.74) mg/cm2 vs(433.33?6.77) mg/cm2(t=2.57,P=0.00) and 0 mg/cm2].By histological examination,the new-formed bone in the treatment group was confirmed integral and dense with intact cortex and continuous marrow cavities in 24 weeks,while the bone defect of the controls were repaired with connective tissues without remodeling of the bone.Conclusion It is effective to repair bone defect in dogs by using injectable osteoinductive material with FS as a carrier compounded with bBMP and bFGF.

Objective　To study the molecular mechanism about injurious effect of morphine dependence on the construction and function of hippocampal neurons. Method　 Mice were given (sc) increasing doses of morphine to form morphine-dependence model ,and the DNA and RNA changes stained with acridine orange (AO) fluorescence probe technique were investigated in hippocampal neurons of morphine-dependence group,naloxone-precipitated withdrawal group in morphine-dependence mice and control group. Results　 Compared with control group , the staining changes of DNA,RNA decreased obviously in hippocampal neurons of both morphine-dependence group and naloxone- precipitated withdrawal group in morphine-dependence mice,especially the later. Conclusion　Both morphine-dependence and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal in morphine-dependence mice injured nucleic acid metabolism in hippocampal neurons ,especially the later.Those changes may be some reasons of decreased brain function ,especially in learning and memory deficits.

Objective To investigate the effects of rosiglitazone on the proliferation,connective tissue growth factor and Smad expression in cultured cardiac fibroblasts induced by advanced glycosylation end-products (AGEs).Methods After being treated with various amounts of rosiglitazone,the cultured neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts were incubated with AGEs.The status of cardiac fibroblasts proliferation and cell cycle were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethyhhiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTI) assay and flow cytometry.Furthermore,ELISA technique was applied to identify the level of TGF-β1.The protein expressions of CTGF and Smad in cardiac fibroblasts of neonatal SD rats were detected with Western blotting.Results The exposure of cardiac fibroblasts to AGEs at doses of 0-200 mg/L induced a dose-dependent increase in cell proliferation.At the concentration of rosiglitazooe (0.1,1,and 10 μmol/L),the cell proliferation was reduced compared with 200 mg/L AGEs group by O.823±0.072,0.785±0.060,0.601±0.081 vs 0.981±0.049,respectively (P < 0.05).The increased levels of TGF-β1 in supematants of cultured cardiac fibroblasts stimulated by AGEs were inhibited by rosiglitazone at the concentrations of 0.1,1,10μmol/L by 257.77±9.09,230.29±6.56,200.84±10.26 vs 300.68±8.56,respectively (vs 200 mg/L AGEs,P<0.01).Western blot indicated that pretreatment with rosiglitazone (0.1,1,and 10 μmol/L) inhibited CTGF protein production in a dose-dependent by 0.769±0.108,0.590±0.095,0.534±0.115 vs 1.021±0.113,respectively (vs 200 mg/L AGEs,P<0.01).It was also demonstrated that pretreatment with rosiglitazone (1 and 10 μmol/L) inhibited Smad2 protein production by 0.424±0.059,0.396±O.080 vs 0.572±0.073,respectively (vs 200 mg/L AGEs,P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).Meanwhile pretreatment with rosiglitazone (1 and 10 μmol/L) inhibited Smad4 protein production by 0.580±0.063,0.556±0.051 vs 0.672±0.059,respectively (vs 200 mg/L AGEs,P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).Conclusions The findings suggest that AGEs promote the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts and stimulate the protein production of Smad and CTGF of cardiac fibroblasts.Rosiglitazone inhibits the above reaction.These results indicate that CTGF/Smad pathway may play an important role in the protective effect of rosiglitazone on myocardial fibrosis.

Objective To study the incidence and prognosis of avascular necrosis of femoral head after internal fixation of femoral neck fractures. Methods 137 cases of femoral neck fracture treated with internal fixation between January 1993 and December 1999 were evaluated retrospectively. The average age was 49.1 years ( range, 17-77 years ). According to Garden classification, 4 cases were of stageⅠ; 23 of Ⅱ; 71 of Ⅲ; 38 of Ⅳ. One case could not be classified. The mean duration of follow-up was 49.1 months with a range from 14 to 95 months. Results Until January 2001, avascular necrosis of the femoral head was found in 51 cases (37.2%), among them late collapse occurred in 33 cases (24.1%). Avascular changes of the femoral head were found within 5 years after injury in most of the cases. The common clinical findings in the patients with avascular necrosis were: limited motion, limp and pain. Even if segmental collapse developed, about 30% patients had no complaint of pain, but the average Harris score was obviously lower than that of the patients without collapse. Statistical results showed that the related factors influencing the prognosis of avascular necrosis and late collapse were: degree of displacement of the fracture and quality of reduction. The location and extent of necrotic area were markably related to the development of late collapse. Conclusion Follow-up after operation of femoral neck fracture is important, it should be taken at least for 5 years. Close and thoughtful examination is recommended, especially in the 2nd to 3rd year after injury.