Whether cultured human trabecular meshwork cells express transforming growth factor-β₂ (TGF-β₂) messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein was investigated. Total RNA of 10⁶ cultured human trabecular meshwork cells was extracted with TRIZOL reagent, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used for detection of TGF-β₂ messenger RNA, and the PCR product was verified by sequencing. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect TGF-β₂ protein. The results showed that a single RT-PCR amplified product was obtained, and the sequence was homologous to the known sequence. TGF-β₂ immunostaining was positive. It was concluded that trabecular meshwork cells could produce TGF-β₂ and contribute to the presence of TGF-β₂ in trabecular meshwork microenvironment as well as aqueous humor. Trabecular meshwork cells were affected by TGF-β₂ not only through paracrine, but also autocrine action. Whether abnormal changes in TGF-β₂ production contribute to the pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma is worth further investigation.

In order to evaluate the effects of sex chromosomal mosaicism on the accuracy of single-cell gender diagnosis, sex chromosomes of 21 normal fertilized embryos were detected by dual color fluorescentin-situ hybridization (FISH). The results showed that 4 embryos had sex chromosomal mosaicism (19%) and the remaining 17 showed uniformly XX or XY signals in all blastomeres. In conclusion, identification of sex by dual color FISH analysis of a single cell was accurate and efficient, and sex chromosomal mosaicism would not affect preimplantation gender diagnosis.

The feasibility of anterior lumbar intervertebral fusion with artificial bone in place of autogenous bone was investigated. Porous hydroxyapatite (HA)/ZrO₂ ceramics loading bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) were implanted after removal of lumbar vertebral disc in rabbits. The adjacent intervertebral discs were also removed by the same way and autogenous illic bone was implanted. SEM observation and biomechanical test were carried out. Compound bone had a bit lower osteoinductive activity than autogenous bone by SEM (Osteoindutive activity of artificial bone in 12 weeks was the same as that of autogenous bone in 9 weeks). Biomechanical test revealed that compound bone had lower anti-pull strength than autogeneous bone (P<0.001), but there was no significant difference in anti-pull strength between compound bone at 12th week and autogenous bone at 9th week (P>0.05). It was concluded that compound bone could, be applied for anterior spinal fusion, especially for those patients who can’t use autogenous bone.

A stochastic model of intracellular calcium oscillations is put forward by taking into account the random opening-closing of Ca²⁺ channels in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. The numerical results of the stochastic model show simple and complex calcium oscillations, which accord with the experiment results.