This paper discusses the problem of the periods of Medical Ethics. The writers suggest that Medical Ethics should be distingwished three periods: Medical Ethics, Biomedical Ethics and Bioethics.

Objective To observe the morphological changes in alcohol-induced pregnanted golden hamster neural tube defects and eye abnormalities, and to study quantitatively the alterations of apoptosis during teratogenesis. Methods The pregnanted golden hamsters were killed 4,8,16,24, 48 and 72 hours after teratogenic dose alcohol exposure respectively, and both embryos and fetuses were obtained. The LM, SEM and stereomicroscope were used to observe the histological alterations during the teratogenesis of the neural tube and the eye. With the TUNEL and TEM methods, the apoptosis were studied qualitatively. Results 1^The closure of the golden hamster neural tube and the formation of the optic cup were significantly retardation in the experimental groups. 2^After 8h of maternal alcohol exposure, the apoptosis of neural epithelial cells increased apparently, especially in the prosencephalon and neural crest.At either 16h or 24h after treatment, the index of apoptosis was also higher than that in the control groups, and the apoptosis chiefly located in the neural crest and optic grooves.After 48h, this index gradually declined to the level of control groups.Conclusion Alcohol can delay the closure of the golden hamster neural tube and the formation of the optic cup. Meanwhile it can cause excessive apoptosis on these structures.These alterations are probably partially involved in the mechanism of alcohol-induced neural tube defects and eye abnormalities.

Objective The androgen signaling pathway is involved in the regulation of early follicular growth and follicular atresia, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is an important factor in regulating the level of local ovarian androgen.This study was to investigate the effects of androgen on the expression of SHBG in ovarian granulosa cells.Methods Human ovarian granule cancer cells were cultured with 0 nmol/L dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 500 nmol/L DHT, or 500 nmol/L DHT + 60 μmol/L Flutamide.The expression of SHBG was detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence staining.Hyperandrogenism (HA) was induced in 6 SD rats by subcutaneous injection of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and another 6 rats were included in the vehicle control group.At 35 days after modeling, all the rats were sacrificed for measurement of the level of SHBG in the blood from the inferior caval vein by ELISA, the expression of SHBG in the ovarian granulosa cells by immunohistochemistry, and expressions of androgen receptor (AR) and SHBG in the liver by Western blot.Results At 24 hours after modeling, the expression of AR was significantly upregulated in the 300, 400, and 500 nmol/L DHT groups as compared with the 0 nmol/L DHT group (1.06±0.02, 1.61±0.11, and 2.38±0.14 vs 1.06±0.03, P<0.05), and so was that of SHBG, increasing in a concentration-dependent manner, most significantly at 500 nmol/L (P<0.01).Both the expressions of AR and SHBG proteins remarkably elevated in the 500 nmol/L DHT group in comparison with the 0 nmol/L DHT group (P<0.01), but markedly downregulated as compared with the 500 nmol/L DHT + 60 μmol/L Flutamide group (P<0.05).Immunofluorescence staining showed that DHT promoted while the addition of Flutamide inhibited the expressions of AR and SHBG.Immunohistochemical staining of the ovarian tissue revealed a high level of SHBG in the HA rats.Compared with the control group, the HA animals exhibited a significantly decreased expression of serum SHBG (4.80±0.35 vs 2.41±0.14, P<0.01) and that in the liver, but a markedly increased level of the AR protein (P<0.05).Conclusion Activation of the androgen signaling pathway by DHT can promote the expression of SHBG in rat ovarian granulosa cells.

Objective To establish a method for determination of emodin content in Shengfa granule.Methods HPLC was used.Mobile phase consisted of methanol-0.25 %phosphoric acid (80 ∶20) with UV detection at 254 nm,the analytical column was YMC-Pack ODS-A.Results The linear range of emodin was 0.021 ?g～0.155 ?g(r=0.9999)while the average recovery rate was 99.03 %(RSD=1.40 %,n=6).Conclusion The methods is suitable for determination of emodin content in Shengfa granule.

Objective To explore the curative effect and indication in coverage of the thumb soft tissue defect by five kinds of minute flaps. Methods From January 1998 to March 2003, 52 cases with skin and soft tissue defect of the thumb were treated by five different kinds of flaps: 5 underwent the wrapping flap with nail from the big toe, 15 with the reversible thumb dorso-ulnar artery island flap, 10 with the thenar flap, 8 with the lateral digital island flap, 14 with the index finger dorsal island flap. There were 40 males and 12 females, aged from 17 to 35 years (average, 25 years). The maximum area of the repair flap was 5.0 cm?2.5 cm, and the minimum area was 2.0 cm?1.5 cm. Results All flaps survived. After 6 to 36 months postoperative follow-up, with an average of 20 months. The blood supply and texture of the flaps were excellent, their outer aspect and function were satisfactory. Among 46 cases of flaps with their proper or connecting nerves, the average distance of the two-point discrimination was 5.8 mm in the wrapping flap with nail from the big toe, 8.5 mm in the reversible thumb dorso-ulnar artery island flap, 7.0 mm in the thenar flap, 6.2 mm in the lateral digital island flap, 8.8 mm in the index finger dorsal island flap. Of the 6 cases that the nerves were not connected, the healed flaps had only the pain and touch sensation, the two-point discrimination was poorly recovered. Conclusion The five kinds of flaps are safe and reliable for repairing thumb soft tissue defect, among which the wrapping flap with nail from the big toe and the lateral digital island flap have the advantage of the best sensation recovery, the reversible thumb dorso-ulnar artery island flap and the thenar flap are easy to perform with minimum damage. Better curative effect can be obtained by choosing different flaps according to the site of tissue defect.

Objective To explore the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in embryonic neuroepithelial cells in Golden hamster exposured to the teratogenic dose of alcohol. Methods The experimental pregnant golden hamsters were given ethanol through intraperitoneally injected, 5.8 g/kg body weight. The Bcl-2 and Bax expressions in neuroepithelial cells of experimental and control animals were detected with immunohistochemical and image analysis at 4,8,16,24,48 and 72 h time points after treatment. Results Bcl-2 and Bax proteins distributed in nuclear membranes and cytoplasm of the neuroepithelial cells as well as mesenchymal cells. In control groups, the expressions of these two kind proteins increased as the time passed at beginning, 16 hours after, came to the summit and then descended gradually. Compared with the control, the expressions of Bcl-2 in experimental groups were down-regulated, expressions of Bax were up-regulated except at 8 h time point. Conclusion Alcohol can induce down-regulation of the expression of Bcl-2 protein and up-regulation of the expression of bax protein, which may play a an important role in regulation of apoptosis in alcohol-induced neural tube malformation.

Objective To investigate the selective killing effect of adenoviral mediated herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSV-tk/GCV) suicide gene system controlled by human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter on bladder cancer cells in vitro. Methods Bladder cancer cell line 253J and human fibroblast cell line MRC-5 were transfected by the recombinant adenovirus of different multiplicities of infection (MOI),and the infection rate was measured by observing the expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the fluorescent microscopy.Ad-hTERT-HSV/tk and Ad-CMV-HSV/tk were transduced into 253J and MRC-5,followed by GCV treatment. The relative survival rate of cells in presence of prodrug GCV was measured with MTT method. Results Recombinant adenovirus Ad-hTERT-EGFP could selectively infect 253J cells,with the infection rate associated with the increasing MOI of recombinant adenovirus (P

Objective To study the effect of tamoxifen on the proliferation and apoptosis of germ cells and to evaluate its clinical application to idiopathic oligospermia. Methods 41 oligospermia patients were treated with tamoxifen.Testicular tissues obtained by Tur Cut biopsy needle,both before and after the treatment,were observed under electron microscopy,the incidence of apoptosis and PCNA expression in germ cells being detected. Results Testicular pathological changes in different degree were observed on electron microscopy.Compared with the normal controls.PCNA proliferation index (PI) was lower ( P

Objective To study the ultrastructural changes in three different zones of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH). Methods The ultrastructural changes in peripheral,transitional and central zones(PZ,TZ and CZ)of prostates from 10 patients with BPH were observed with transmission electron microscopy. Results Glandular epithelia layers in TZ of BPH were increased.The stroma in TZ was mainly composed of smooth muscle cells (SMC) of vigorous proliferation and fibroblasts.Mast cell and lymphocyte with cytoplasma membrane merge were observed in this zone.In PZ and CZ of BPH, SMC showing degenerative changes,such as,nuclear pyknosis,dilatation of perinuclear space and vacuolation of cytoplasma were frequently seen. Conclusions There are significant differences in the ultrastructure of three zones in BPH.

Objective To know the risk factors of indoor environment associated with childhood asthmas. Methods Using 1∶1 matched case-control study design,140 cases and 140 age-sex-matched controls from the Affiliated Hospital of Ningxia Medical University were investigated for the indoor environment risk factors,from July 2004 to May 2008. Conditional Logistic regression model was used for data analysis. Results It was revealed in univariate and multivariate conditional Logistic regression analysis that there was significant correlation between using coal for cooking,newly indoor decoration,raising pets and the childhood asthma with odds ratios of 1.67,6.46 and 3.06 respectively(P