Small hairpin RNA (shRNA) was used to silence the HIF1α gene in human retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) under hypoxia in order to observe the effect of gene silencing on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor 1 (TIMP1). By using chemical hypoxic inducer CoCl₂ to mimic RPE hypoxic environment, shRNA against the targeting region of HIF1α mRNA sequence was synthesized by a method ofin vitro transcription, and the HIF1α was interfered in RPE cultured under hypoxia (induced by 150 μmol/L CoCl₂). RT-PCR was employed to detect the expression of HIF1α and TIMP1. The expression levels of HIF1α and TIMP1 were measured by using Western blotting. The results showed that after the RPE were transfected with specific shRNA against HIF1α mRNA. RT-PCR revealed that under hypoxia, the efficacy of HIF1α gene silencing in RPE was 83.4%. Western blotting revealed that the expression levels of HIF1α protein was dramatically dropped. In addition, RT-PCR results demonstrated that the expression of TIMP1 mRNA was decreased by 28.9% and the expression levels of TIMP1 protein were also significantly reduced by Western blotting. It was suggested that shRNA targeted against HIF1α mRNA could effectively silence the HIF1α gene, subsequently effectively inhibit the hypoxia-induced up-regulation of TIMP1.

In order to identify family factors obviously relevant to aggression, and offer a theoretical foundation for the prevention of aggression, 4010 students from primary and secondary schools in 5 different areas in Hubei province were surveyed. The Child Behavior Checklist “parents’ form” (Chinese version) and the four scales of Family Environment Scale were used. A multiple logistic regression was used to identify risk factors of children’s and adolescents’ aggressive behavior. The results showed that maternal education, paternal occupation, family type, parental child-rearing attitude and patterns, students’ interpersonal relationship were significantly associated with the children’s and adolescents’ aggression. The risk factors of aggression were parental child-rearing patterns, peer relationship, teacher-student relationship, and family conflicts.

To get information in the sexual and contraceptive behaviors in Chinese female college students, a randomized cluster sampling was conducted in colleges and universities in Wuhan Area, China, in terms of types of colleges, subjects (literature, sciences, medicines, art etc), and grades etc. A total number of 2450 questionnaires were distributed, with 2365 questionnaires returned being valid. The return rate of valid questionnaires was 96.6 %. The questionnaire investigation was conducted on a multiple-choice and anonymous basis. Data were input into computer and SPSS12.0 software package was employed for statistical analysis. Among the female students, 1196 had the experiences of hugging and kissing (50.57 %) and 423 (17.89 %) had sexual experiences (sexual intercourse). The first sexual intercourse took place at the age of 19.23±1.74 y. There were significant differences in the sexual experiences among the majors of different subjects, with the rate of sexual experiences in art majors (43.17 %) and high-grade students (34.31 %) being the highest. The causes of the first sexual intercourse included sexual impulse, curiosity, intention to strengthen the relationship or to show loyalty to boyfriend and sometimes violence. While the motives of the sexual intercourse within the past one year before the investigation were to satisfy the sexual needs and to strengthen the relation with their boyfriends. With both first intercourse and sexual experiences within last one year, the partners of the sexual intercourse were mainly their boyfriends (95.7 % and 97.3 % respectively), but the partners also included acquaintances, “one night stand” partners and customers of sex trade. Some of them had multiple sexual partners, with the highest number of the sexual partners being 11. In the first sexual intercourse of the subjects, 44.0 % of them did not take any contraceptive measures; only 16.4 % of them used condoms. In the sexual intercourse within the last one year, only 44.6 % took contraceptive measures every time they had sexual intercourse. Among those who took contraceptive measures, 64.4 % used condoms. Among those who had sexual intercourse, 101 persons got pregnant, with a rate of pregnancy being 4.3 %, accounting for 23.9 % of all who had sexual intercourse. Among those who got pregnant, 78 persons got pregnant once; the others became pregnant more than two times, the highest being 5 times. There were 122 persons who had inflammation of reproductive system, mostly vaginitis. Other conditions included venereal warts and herpes genitalis. It is concluded that the rate of sexual behaviors is high in female college students and there exist promiscuity, unexpected pregnancy and transmission of STD in the students.