ABSTRACT Recent research suggests that the ?-amyloid peptide (A?) is central to the pathophysi-ology of Alzheimers disease (AD). Amyloid plaques, primarily composed of A?, have significant neurotoxic effects. So it is therapeutic strategies for AD to lower the production of A? in the brain. A? is a product of catabolism of amyloid precursor protein ( APP) by ?-secretase and y- secretase. BACE ( ?-secretase) exhibits all the properties of the ?-secretase, and as the key rate-limiting enzyme that initiates the formation of A?, BACE is an attractive drug target for AD. The recent research of ?-secretase is reviewed in this paper.

Objective To clone human survivin gene and express survivin-an inhibitor of apoptosis proteins in Pichia pastoris eukaryotic expression system. Methods Full length survivin gene was amplified by PCR using survivin specific primers. The verified survivin gene by sequencing was subcloned into pPic9k. The recombinant plasmid was linearized by restriction enzyme cutting. The linear survivin gene was introduced into GS115/ His-cells by electroporation. The transformants were transferred onto YPD plates that contained different concentrations of G418 for screening the positive clones. The integrated survivin gene in positive clones was confirmed by PCR. Selected transformants were cultured in BMMY medium with 1 % methanol for inducing the expression of survivin protein. The expressed survivin protein was analyzed by ELISA. Results The cloned human survivin sequence was the same as that in the GeneBank. The recombinant pPic9k-survivin was constructed in Picha pastoris eukaryotic expression vector. After the linear digestion, the recombinant vector was introduced into GS115/ His-cells, the 6 positive clones against G418(4 mg/mL) were obtained and confirmed by PCR; the highest survivin protein was expressed when expressed for two days in 1 % methanol BMMY medium. Conclusions Improved survivin protein yield may be reached by modifying the experimental conditions. This will help to further study the biological functions of survivin and its roles in tumor developments.

AIM: To apply high throughput screening methods to research Xiaoxuming Decoction's effective components combination and its action mechanism. METHODS: We studied the effects of 240 sequential components of Xiaoxuming Decoction (L1-L120,A1-A120) on anti-A? neurotoxicity、anti-H_2O_2 damage、anti-glutamic acid damage and ?-secretase activity. RESULTS: We evaluated these results of screening comprehensively,and found several components of Xiaoxuming Decoction (L1-L40,A30-A60,A100-A120) had the potential effects of listed before.So the combination of these components was regarded as the effective components combination of Xiaoxuming Decoction for anti-Alzheimer's disease. CONCLUSION: Xiaoxuming Decoction had effective protection against Alzheimer's disease through multi-component and multi-target.High throughput screening methods will push the development of Chinese traditional compound prescription greatly.

AIM: To establish the model of aging rats and observe the effect of the group of effective components of Xiaoxuming Decoction(XXM)on aging rats. METHODS: D-galactose and rotenone were used to establish aging animal model.The ability of learning and memory were measured by using Morris water maze test.Then, the content of GSH and MDA,the activity of SOD,the activity of AchE and ChAT in rats'brain were measured. (RESULTS): D-galactose could induce aging like indicators in rats:decrease the content of GSH and the activity of SOD,and increase the content of MDA,but have no effect on AchE and ChAT.It showed that GEC could improve the ability of learning and memory and ameliorate biochemistry function in rats with aging induced by D-galactose. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that GEC of XXM could improve the responses of aging rats and these effects may be related to its ability of antioxidation.

Objective To quantify iron deposition in Alzheimer’s disease (AD),amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and normal old people using susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI).Methods Sixty participants (22 aMCI,20 AD,18 normal con-trols)underwent conventional magnetic resonance imaging sequences and SWI using axial/oblique coronal sequences.Phase images were used to calculate bilateral iron deposition in 1 8 regions of interest (ROI)of every participant.The radian angle values were cal-culated and compared between the three groups.Results The radian angle value difference was significant between the aMCI and control groups in the left (L)-hippocampus,L-head of the caudate nucleus,R/L-lenticular nucleus ROIs.The radian angle value difference was significant between the AD and aMCI groups in the R/L-cerebellar hemisphere,R/L-hippocampus,R-red nucleus, R/L-thalamus and splenium of corpus callosum ROIs.Pearson correlation coefficients of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE)scores and many ROIs were significant.Conclusion Iron depositions in the hippocampus,head of the caudate nucleus,len-ticular nucleus and thalamus are significantly different between individuals with aMCI,AD and controls.Using SWI to quantify the iron deposition is a useful tool in detecting aMCI and AD.

Objective To find an easy and proper way to differentiate metastatic breast cancer from second primary breast cancer by analyzing the histopathological characteristics of 40 patients with bilateral breast cancer.Methods According to the Chaudary histological criteria,the histopathological and biological characteristics of 16 cases of synchronous bilateral breast cancer and 24 cases of metachronous bilateral breast cancer were evaluated.The histopathological and biological characteristics included Nottingham histological grade,immunohistochemistry (IHC) results of the estrogen receptor,progesterone receptor and expression of Her-2.Results The average age of the 40 patients at first diagnosis was 41 years old (range,26-68 years old).The average time interval between first and second diagnosis of tumors was 34 months (range,7-209 months) in metachronous cancer.The concordant histopathological type was found in 93.8 ％ (15/16) of synchronous cancer patients and 58.3 ％ (14/24) of metachronous cancer patients (P =0.02).The concordance rates of tumor stage was 68.8 ％ (11/16) in synchronous cancer patients,while it was 25.0 ％ (6/24) in metachronous cancer patients (P =0.03).For progesterone receptor status,the concordance rates were 87.5 ％ (14/16) and 54.2 ％ (13/24) in synchronous and metachronous cancer patients respectively (P =0.03).There was no statistically significant difference in terms of estrogen receptor status and Her-2 expression (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Without considering the limitation of Chaudary criteria and the number of patients,it seems to be an easy and proper way to differentiate metastatic cancer from second primary cancer in the patients with bilateral breast cancer by combining the histopathological type,tumor stage and progesterone receptor status.The synchronous cancer is closer to same clonal lesion (metastatic lesion).

Objective To investigate the psychological status and related factors in patients with mainte-nance hemodialysis in Huzhou city.Methods 376 cases of maintenance hemodialysis were selected as the research subjects in Huzhou First People's Hospital.The anxiety and depression status in maintenance hemodialysis patients were investigated by issuing questionnaires.To study the relationship between anxiety and depression,gender,age, social support,nutritional status,complications,and in maintenance hemodialysis patients.At the same time,the quality of life was evaluated by SF -36 scale.Results Issuing 376 questionnaires,a total of 373 points,the effective recovery rate was 99.20%.In 373 patients,there were 182 patients (48.79%)with no depression,mild depression in 78 cases (20.91%),moderate depression in 59 cases (15.82%),severe depression in 54 cases (14.48%). 51.21% patients had different degree of depression.Of the 373 patients,there were 123 patients (32.97%)with no anxiety,mild anxiety in 141 cases (37.80%),mild and moderate anxiety in 55 cases (14.75%),moderate anxiety in 33 cases (8.85%),severe anxiety in 21 cases (5.63%).A total of 67.03% patients had different degrees of anx-iety.Huzhou city maintenance hemodialysis,female patients had depression rate of 80.70%,anxiety rate of 65.50%, which were significantly higher than the rate of depression 55.45%,anxiety rate 39.11% in male patients,the differ-ences were statistically significant (P <0.01 -0.05).In maintenance hemodialysis patients,the anxiety and depres-sion status gradually increased with age.Severe malnutrition in maintenance hemodialysis patients,the rate of depres-sion,anxiety rates were 80.65%,90.32%,the rates of depression,anxiety were 44.49%,61.81% in normal and mild malnutrition patients,the differences were statistically significant (all P <0.01).SF -36 scale showed that most of the patients with maintenance hemodialysis patients had poor quality of life,and the function was limited. Conclusion Maintenance hemodialysis patients,the general existence of anxiety and depression in the mental state in Huzhou city.Moreover,the psychological state of the patients is influenced by sex,age,nutrition status,and other factors.In clinical,it is needed to provide effective psychological intervention for patients to improve the quality of life,according to the psychological status and related factors of maintenance hemodialysis patients.

ObjectiveTo analyze the causes of and principles for reoperation of congenital choledochal cyst (CCC).MethodsDuring the period of 1986 to 2000, 120 cases of CCC were admitted to our unit,53 of them underwent reoperation. There were 33/14/2/4 cases respectively in Todani Type of Ⅰ/Ⅳa/Ⅳb and Ⅴ. First operation included simple external drainage in 17 cases, choledochoduodenostomy in 8 cases, and choledochojejunostomy with Roux en Y loop in 22 cases etc.ResultsPostoperative complications after external or internal drainage were cholangitis and hepatolithiasis, and high incidence of biliary carcinoma 19% (10/53). The mode of reoperation was mainly cyst excision with Roux Y hepaticojejunostomy (46/53).Conclusions Inappropriate surgical management of CCC incurred much complications that necessitated a reoperation. Cyst excision with reconstruction of the biliary tree by a Roux Y anastomosis is recommended as the therapy of choice for reoperation for patient with CCC.

Objective To explore the pathogenesis of syringoma in order to cure this disease. Methods The clinical manifestation was observed in 39 cases of syringoma. The serum level of estradiol (E 2), progesterone (Pro), luteinizing hormone(LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were detected with radioimmunoassay in all the 30 female cases and 25 normal controls. The expression of estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER and PR) was determined in syringoma tissues using ABC method and anti ER and anti PR monoclonal antibodies. Results Syringoma mainly involved middle aged women. The average level of serum E 2 in female patients was (73?28) ng/ml and its control group, (42?19) ng/ml ( P

Epilepsy is a kind of brain dysfunction syndrome caused by so many reasons instead of a certain disease. Abnormal neuron discharge can cause epilepsy. Idiopathic epilepsy refers to epilepsy or epilepsy syndrome without any latent reasons but inherited trait. Idiopathic epilepsy is confirmed as an ion channelopathy at present. The first genemutation was found in idiopathic epilepsy in 1995, and a lot of genes coding either voltage-gated or ligand-gated ion channels have been found since then. In the present review, some new advances in research on ion channels dysfunction in idiopathic epilepsy are summarized.