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The authors discussed the retention and revision of the Regulations on the Handling of Medical Malpractice following the enforcement of the Tort Liability Law.These discussions also covered the amendment of the concept of medical malpractice,and the reforms to make on the medical malpractice appraisal system built upon the Regulations following the enforcement.In the meantime of applying the Law to judge cases of medical malpractice,the Regulations as an administrative regulations issued by the State Council,should be revised before playing its role in preventing medical malpractice,medical dispute handling,and penalising medical institutions and medical workers of malpractice.

Erythropoietin(EPO) has an anti-apoptotic effect,and promotes the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells. Several studies have indicated that EPO can protect photoreceptor cells from the lightinduced retinal degeneration ;protect retinal neurons from ischemia-reperfusion injury and retinal ganglion cells after acute and chronic ocular hypertension; promote ganglion cell survival and axonal regeneration after optic nerve transaction; attenuate inflammation in multiple sclerosis optic neuritis; reduce the permeability of the retinal barrier and protect retinal neurons in diabetic retinopathy; enhance the stability of hypoxic retinal vessels in retinopathy of prematurity. Herein,we review the distribution of EPO and its receptor in retina,their expression in animal model of retinal diseases,and their effects and mechanisms in protection of retinal neurons and optic nerve.

Objective To explore the relationship between X - linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda (SEDL) gene escaping X chromosome inactivation( XCI) and SEDL phenotype. Methods RT - PCR was performed on total RNA which was isolated from blood samples of patients, female carriers and controls. Patients and female carriers were selected from the pedigree with SEDL caused by the mutation (IVS2 - 2A→C) of the gene. cDNA was analyzed by polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis(PAGE). Results PAGE data indicateed that female carriers expressed both normal and mutant SEDL mRNA,meaning the SEDL gene escaping XCI. Family investigation showed carrier females in the SEDL pedigree presented no symptoms. Conclusions The SEDL gene escaping X chromosome in-activation is firstly identified from human body. This may explain that carrier females present no symptoms.

Objective To report the experience and results in comparing laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) and open radical nephrectomy (ORN) in the treatment of clinical T_2 stage renal cell carcinomas. Methods Between Feb. 2004 and Jul. 2007, 30 patients (12 females and 18 males with average age of 58.0±8.5 years, range 42-68 years) received LRN and 36 patients (16 females and 20 males with average age of 60.0±9. 0 years, range 52-70 years) received ORN. The average tumor sizes in the LRN and ORN groups were (8. 5±2.2)cm (range 7-12 cm) and (8. 8±2.1)cm (range 7-14 cm) respectively. Renal cell carcinoma was histopatologically confirmed in all the patients of these 2 groups after surgery. Results The operative time in the ORN group (130±27 min) was significantly shorter than that in the LRN group (176±23 min), P<0. 01. The estimated blood loss in the LRN group (200±80 ml) was also significantly less than that in the ORN group (380±185 ml) , P<0. 01. Patients in LRN group experienced significantly earlier bowel function recovery (P<0. 01) and shorter duration of drainage (P<0. 01) than those in the ORN group after operation. No severe perioperative complications occurred in all patients. The follow-up range was 6-27 months (average 15±2 months). During the follow-up, 2 patients in the LRN group developed lung metastasis. In the ORN group, 2 patients developed liver metastasis and 1 developed lung metastasis. Conclusion LRN has the advantages of minimal invasiveness and rapid postoperative recovery comparable to those of ORN, and it might be an alternative treatment option for the clinical T_2 stage renal cell carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: Animal experimental studies have confirmed that cell transplantation, neurotrophic factor infusion or transplantation as well as other methods can alter the local environment of injured spinal cord and promote its partial function recovery.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation for the treatment of the sequel of myelitis, and to explore whether it would promote the recovery of the spinal cord function.DESIGN: A non-randomized self-control study.SETTING: Ward of Second Department of Surgery of Taian Disabled Soldiers Hospital of Shandong Province.PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-two patients with obsolete myelitis, who come from all over China and suffered from disease for 0.5 to 7 years, admitted to our hospital between June 2004 and July 2007 were recruited in this study. The involved patients, including 21 males and 11 females, were aged 5-48 years. Their neurological functions were not obviously improved after various conventional treatments and limb function exercise. Meanwhile, various sensorimotors and autonomic nerve functional impairments were left. Among the patients, 18 suffered from acute viral myelitis, 8 from acute purulent myelitis and 6 from tuberculous myelitis. After onset, they were all given large doses of radiosonde,dexamethasone, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs and various neurotrophic drugs. Twenty-six patients presented complete injury and six patients incomplete injury. Informed consent of treatment was obtained from each patient. The therapeutic protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital. Embryonic olfactory bulbs were harvested from aborted embryo, which was donated voluntarily by the patients or their relatives.METHODS: Cells were isolated from embryonic olfactory bulbs, cultured and purified for 7 to 14 days, and finally they were digested into single-cell suspension. Under the surgical miscroscope, the cells were transplanted onto the regions which were above or below the spinal cord injury site. Two weeks to 2 months postoperatively, neurological function of spinal cord was assessed by using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Scoring Standard formulated in 2000, and was compared to pre-operation function.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Sensory function change. ②Motor function change.RESULTS: Half a year to 2 years after olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation, the sensory and motor functions of 32 patients were all obviously improved (motor function: 55.72±10.50 vs. 51.53±13.41; light touch:69.53±11.68 vs.63.06±15.98; pain sense: 69.50±12.20 vs. 64.03±15.0, all P ＜ 0.01 ).CONCLUSION: Olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation can help to promote the neurological function recovery of patients with the sequel of myelitis. However, its long-term curative effect needs to be further investigated.

BACKGROUND:The mechanism underlying orthodontic-induced external root resorption is not yet clear, and it differs individual y. Kidney deficiency has been proved to be related to bone diseases which mediated by different cytokines. Interleukin-17 is an important cytokine involved in external root resorption. So figuring out whether kidney deficiency and interleukin-17 are related to root resorption wil be helpful for etiological research.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the relationship between kidney deficiency physique, interleukin-17 and root resorption during orthodontic treatment in rats.
METHODS:Thirty-six Wistar rats were selected and equivalently randomized into two groups, fol owed by modeled into kidney deficiency (kidney deficiency group) or injected with normal saline (control group), respectively. Afterwards, the right maxil ary of each rat served as an orthodontic force model, and the left maxil ary as a non-orthodontic force model. Al rats were respectively sacrificed under general anesthesia at the 3, 7 and 14 days after given orthodontic force. Then, the mesial surface of the root of maxil ary first molars and the expression level of interleukin-17 were observed through hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical method.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Histological observation showed that significantly increasing root resorption in a time-dependent manner could be observed, and there were various absorbed lacunae of osteoclasts on the enamel in the kidney deficiency orthodontic force group. The alveolar bone resorption and widened periodontal membrane appeared in the control orthodontic force group. While no remarkable root and alveolar bone resorptions were found in the other two non-orthodontic force groups. The expression level of interleukin-17 in the kidney deficiency orthodontic force group was higher than that in the control orthodontic force group;the expression level of interleukin-17 in the kidney deficiency non-orthodontic force group was higher than that in the control non-orthodontic force group. In conclusion, kidney deficiency patients are easy to develop root resorption, the mechanism of which is maybe relevant to the upregulation of interleukin-17.

Objective To evaluate the effects of curcumin on the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-related kinase (p-ERK) and phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (p-CREB) in the spinal dorsal horn and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in type 2 diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) in rats.Methods Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced by high-fat and high-sucrose diet and intraperitoneal streptozotocin (STZ) 35mg/kg,and confirmed by fasting blood glucose level≥ 16.7 mmol/L in male Sprague-Dawley rats.Type 2 DNP was confirmed by the mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdraw latency (TWL) measured on day 14 after STZ administration ＜ 80％ of the baseline value,and the rats with type 2 DNP were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =27 each):type 2 DNP group (group DNP),curcumin group (group Cur) and solvent control group (group SC).Curcumin and corn oil 100 mg/kg (25 mg/ml) were injected intraperitoneally once a day for 14consecutive days starting from 14 days after administration of streptozocin in Cur and SC groups,respectively.Another 27 normal rats were served as control group (group C) and were fed with common forage.MWT and TWL were measured at 3,7 and 14 days after curcumin injection (T1 3),and the lumbar segment 4-6 of the spinal cord and DRGs were removed at the same time for determination of the expression of p-ERK and p-CREB (by Western blot).Results Compared with group C,MWT was significantly decreased,TWL was shortened,and the expression of p-ERK and p-CREB in spinal dorsal horn and DRGs was up-regulated at T1-3 in DNP and SC groups,and at T1 in Cur group (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group DNP,MWT was significantly increased,TWL was prolonged,and the expression of p-ERK and p-CREB in spinal dorsal horn and DRGs was down-regulated at T2,3 in Cur group (P ＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the MWT,TWL and expression of p-ERK and p-CREB between DNP and SC groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Curcumin can attenuate type 2 diabetic DNP by inhibiting up-regulation of the expression of p-ERK and p-CREB in the spinal dorsal horn and DRG in rats.

AIM: To prepare and characterize a novel anti-human CD83 monoclonal mAb. METHODS: Female BALB/c mice of 6-8 weeks old were immunized with CD83 transfectant (L929/CD83) as immunogen. The spleen B cells of the mice were fused with Sp2/0 myeloma cells. The hybridoma cells were screened with CD83 transfectant (L929/CD83 and 293/CD83) by FCM. The biological characteristics of antibody were investigated by rapid isotyping analysis, karyotype analysis, competitive inhibition test and Western blot. RESULTS: One hybridoma cell line named 9D8 was obtained, which had the property of secreting antihuman CD83 monoclonal antibody steadily, This mAb specifically recognized CD83 molecule expressed on human mature DC, activated T cells, and tumor cell line Daudi, myeloma cell line 8226. This mAb can recognize a distinct epitope from comercial mAb(HB15e). CONCLUSION: One hybndoma cell line has been developed successfully, which may lay a fundation for further study on the function of this molecule.

AIM: To prepare and characterize a mouse anti-human CD40 mutant monoclonal mAb. METHODS: Female BALB/c mice of 6-8 weeks old were immunized with CD40 mutant transfectant (L929-CD40mu) as immunogen. The spleen B cells of the mice were fused with Sp2/0 myeloma cells. The hybridoma cells were screened with CD40 mutant transfectant (L929-CD40mu) by FCM. Faststrip analysis was performed to identify Ig subclass of this mAb. The epitope recognized by this mAb was detected by Bio-5C11 competitive assay. Western blot technique was adopted to identify the mAb. The proliferation of tumor cells in vitro was analyzed by MTT assay and apoptosis of tumor cells in vitro was analyzed by PI-annexin V assay. RESULTS: One hybridoma cell line named 10C5 was obtained, which had the property of secreting anti-human CD40 mutant monoclonal antibody continuously and steadily. This mAb specifically recognized human CD40 mutant molecule and induced the apoptosis of tumor cells in vitro. CONCLUSION: One hybridoma cell line which can secret a mouse anti-human CD40 mutant mAb has been prepared successfully. This mAb can inhibit the growth of tumor cells expressing CD40 mutant and induce their apoptosis in vitro.