OBJECTIVETo determine if there are any differences in the number of exclusions from paternity of men using an anonymous parentage testing service compared with that of men using an in-person parentage testing service provided by the same company in Hong Kong SAR of China.

METHODSComparable numbers of consecutive anonymous and in-person parentage tests conducted by the same company were analyzed.

RESULTSMen using an anonymous parentage testing service were excluded from paternity at a significantly greater rate (P < 0.001), compared with men using an in-person parentage test service.

CONCLUSIONSThe results obtained from anonymous parentage testing indicate that the number of families containing children of doubtful parentage is much greater than expected previously. As illegitimate children are known to suffer greater degrees of abuse and neglect, this finding poses serious social questions regarding the welfare of families, which the relevant authorities should acknowledge and address.

Child ; China ; DNA Fingerprinting ; methods ; Gene Frequency ; Hong Kong ; Humans ; Male ; Paternity ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tandem Repeat Sequences

OBJECTIVETo further investigate the {ptin vitro} effects of an osteoprotective herbal formula "ELP" (Herba Epimedii, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi and Fructus Psoraleae) using seropharmacological approach.

METHODSRats were fed with ELP or its individual component herbs for 2 days. The serum containing the postabsorbed ingredients of the herbal items were collected for cell culture using UMR106 cell, RAW264.7 cell and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) isolated from the bone marrow of the rats. The effects of the herbal-containing serum on cell toxicity were detected by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay; bromodeoxyuridine assay was conducted to measure the cell proliferation of UMR106 cell and MSC; cell activity was measured using colorimetric method, and mRNA expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteopontin (OPN) of UMR106 and MSC as well as matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and cathepsin K of RAW264.7 were analyzed using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSELP and its component serum exhibited no cytotoxic effects on the cells. The ELP-containing serum increased the proliferation of UMR106 cell and MSC by 25.7% and 14.4 %, respectively and the alkaline phosphatase activity of MSC was increased by 42.6%. On the contrary, it inhibited the RAW264.7 cell differentiation by 29.2 %. ELP serum upregulated the Runx2 expression of UMR and MSC by 1.18 fold and 1.27 fold, respectively. It also upregulated ALP and OPN expression in MSC by 1.69- and 2.12-fold, respectively. On the other hand, ELP serum down-regulated MMP-9 and cathepsin K expression of RAW264.7 cell by 0.46- and 0.36-fold, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe serum of the animals fed with ELP contains active ingredients which are effective in promoting osteogenesis and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis.

Absorption, Physiological ; drug effects ; Animals ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Osteoclasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serum ; metabolism