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

Objective To investigate the sensitivity of the real-time fluorescence PCR technique and the bacterial culture for detecting the colonization of group B Streptococcus(GBS)in late pregnant women.Methods 2 specimens were collected from preg-nant women genital tract-rectal secretions swabs,one specimen for conducting the bacterial culture and another for conducting the real-time PCR technique to detect genital GBS.The accuracy and rapidness were compared between the two methods.308 cases of pregnant women were divided into the GBS positive group and the GBS negative group according to the detection results of the real time real-time fluorescence PCR technique.The relation between the occurrence of premature rupture of membranes with GBS was investigated by the comparative analysis.Results Among 308 pregnant women with GBS detection,18 cases were positive by the ordinary bacterial culture with the positive rate of 5.8%(18/308),while 28 cases were positive by the real-time fluorescent PCR with the positive rate of 9.4%(29/308).In the GBS positive group detected by PCR,the premature rupture of membranes occurred in 9 cases with the positive rate of 31%,while in the GBS negative group detected by PCR,which occurred in 33 cases with the pos-itive rate of 11.83%.Conclusion This survey shows that the positive detection rate of the real-time fluorescent PCR technique is significantly higher than that of the bacterial culture method,the application of this detection technique for detecting GBS provides the basis for rapidly diagnosing GBS and conducting the prophylactic use of antibacterial drugs more accurately and more effectively.

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 assess volume state precisely and rapidly by ultrasonography of internal jugular vein (IJV) in healthy blood donor.Methods The values of the sonographic IJV collapse index and corrected IJV longitudinal length (cIJVLL) of 46 healthy blood donors were compared before and after blood donation.The correlations between IJV collapse index and cIJV LL were analyzed.Results The value of cIJV LLs before and after blood donation were significantly difference (6.56 ± 0.32 vs.6.11 ± 0.41,P ＜ 0.01).IJV collapse index before blood donation was not differently significant after blood donation (33.12 ± 2.21 vs.39.01 ± 3.83,P＞ 0.05).There was correlation between the value of cIJV LLs before and after blood donation (r =0.81).The value of IJV collapse index before and after blood donation,as well as cIJVLL was not well correlated (r =0.24,r =0.13,respectively).Conclusion The IJV collapse index is not a useful parameter for evaluation of hypovolemia,cIJV LL is more valuable marker for the detection of blood loss in emergency.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of 5′adenosine monophosphate-activated pro-tein kinase ( AMPK) in the regulation of LPS-induced secretion of inflammatory cytokines in mouse alveolar macrophages.Methods Alveolar macrophages were isolated from wild type and AMPKα1-/-C57BL/6J mice.ELISA was used to measure the concentrations of IL-1βand TNF-αin the culture supernatants of LPS treated alveolar macrophages with or without 5-amino-1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-imidazole-4-carboxamide ( AICAR ) stimulation.Western blot assay was performed to analyze the expression of AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 in alveolar macrophages isolated from wild type and AMPKα1-/-mice as well as the LPS-induced changes of p-AMPKαactivity in wild type mice.Results The LPS-induced secretion of inflammatory cyto-kines in alveolar macrophages isolated from AMPKα1-/-mice were significantly higher than that of wild type mice.The activities of p-AMPKαin wild type mice were suppressed by LPS treatment.Treatment of AICAR inhibited the LPS-induced secretion of TNF-αand IL-1β.Conclusion The LPS-induced secretion of in-flammatory cytokines was enhanced in AMPKα1-deficient mice, but could be suppressed upon the treatment of AICAR, an agonist of AMPK.AMPK was involved in the regulation of LPS-induced secretion of inflamma-tory cytokines by alveolar macrophages in mice.

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.

Objective To investigate the variation of the chromosomal karyotype of patients with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia(CPT) and its relation with the neurofibromatosis. Methods Ten patients with complete follow up records in 28 cases of CPT treated between 1982 and 1999 were included in this study. There were 7 males and 3 females. The age of the patients at the surgery ranged 4 to 17 years. Seven patients had skin caf?-au-lait spots. Peripheral venous blood (1-2 ml) of 10 patients was cultured in 1640 culture medium with 10%(v/v) fetal calf serum and phytahematoagglutinin(PHA) for 70-72 hours, and then colchicines was added (10 ?g/ml) in culture medium 4 hours before finishing the culture. The specimens were harvested and the chromosomal karyotype was analysed. Results The karyotype of the chromosomes were normal(46XY or 46XX) in all of the speciments, there were no chromosome aberration, chromosome loss and polyploid. Conclusion Neurofibromatosis has no relation with CPT, the genic location of the CPT may have some relation with the neurofibromatosis.

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.