In order to investigate the protective effect of hypoxic preconditioning on the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was detected by using immunohistochemical staining after 3h cerebral ischemia followed by 1, 6, 12, 24 and 48h reperfusion respectively in rats treated with or without hypoxic preconditioning before cerebral ischemia. In addition, the apoptosis of neural cells and the behavioral scores for neurological functions recovery were evaluated by TUNEL staining and “crawling method”, respectively. Compared with control group (cerebral ischemia-reperfusion without hypoxic preconditioning), the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly increased, but that of Bax decreased in the hypoxic preconditioning group (cerebral ischemia-reperfusion with hypoxic preconditioning), bothP<0.05. The pre-treatment with hypoxic preconditioning could reduce the apoptosis of neural cells and promote the neurological function recovery as compared to control group. It was suggested that hypoxic preconditioning may have protective effects on the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting the apoptosis of neural cells, increase the expression of Bcl-2 and decrease the expression of Bax.

The potential of^99mTc labeled P¹, P⁴-di (adenosine-5’)-tetraphosphate (Ap4A) for imaging experimental atherosclerotic plaques was evaluated in New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits. To label the^99mTc to Ap4A, stannous tartrate solution was used.^99mTc-Ap4A was purified on a Sephadex G-25 column. The radiochemistry purities of^99mTc-Ap4A were 85% to 91%. Biodistribution study revealed^99mTc-Ap4A cleared from blood rapidly. Thirty min after^99mTc-Ap4A administrated on NZW atherosclerotic rabbits, lesion to blood (target/blood, T/B) ratio was 3.17±1.27, and lesions to normal (target/non-target, T/NT) ratio was 5.23±1.87. Shadows of atherosclerotic plaques were clearly visible on radioautographic film. Aortas with atherosclerotic plaques also could be seen on ex vivo gamma camera images. Atherosclerotic abdominal aortas were clearly visible on in vivo images 15 min to 3 h after^99mTc-Ap4A administration.^99mTc-labeled Ap4A can be used for rapid noninvasive detection of experimental atherosclerotic plaque.

In order to construct a eukaryotic co-expression plasmid containing membrane-anchored Sjc14FABP and Sjc26GST genes and identify their expression in vitro, Sj14 and Sj26 genes were obtained by RT-PCR with total RNA of Schistosoma japonicum adult worms as the template and cloned into eukaryotic expression plasmid pVAC to construct recombinant plasmids pVAC-Sj14 and pVAC-Sj26. Then a 23 amino-acid signal peptide of human interleukin-2 (IL-2) upstream Sj14 or Sj26 gene and a membrane-anchored sequence containing 32 amino-acids of carboxyl-terminal of human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) downstream were amplified by PCR as the template of plasmid pVAC-Sj14 or pVAC-Sj26 only to get two gene fragments including Sj14 gene and Sj26 gene. The two modified genes were altogether cloned into a eukaryotic co-expression plasmid pIRES, resulting in another new recombinant plasmid pIRES-Sj26-Sj14. The expression of Sj14 and Sj26 genes was detected by RT-PCR and indirect immunofluorescent assays (IFA) when the plasmid pIRES-Sj26-Sj14 was transfected into eukaryotic Hela cells. Restriction enzyme analysis, PCR and sequencing results revealed that the recombinant plasmids pVAC-Sj14, pVAC-Sj26 and pIRES-Sj26-Sj14 were successfully constructed and the expression of modified Sj14 and Sj26 genes could be detected by RT-PCR and IFA. A bivalent membrane-anchored DNA vaccine encoding Sj14 and Sj26 genes was acquired and expressed proteins were proved to be mostly anchored in cellular membranes.

In order to construct a single chain fragment variable (ScFv) phage display library against ovarian tumor, by using RT-PCR, the human heavy chain variable region genes (V_H) and light chain variable region genes (V_L) were amplifed from lymphocytes of ovarian tumor patients and subsequently assembled into ScFv genes by SOE. The resulting ScFv genes were electrotransformed into E. coli TG1 and amplified with the co-infection of helper phage M13KO7 to obtain phage display library. The capacity and titer of the resulting library were detected. The phage antibody library with a capacity of approximately 3 × 10⁹ cfu/µg was obtained. After amplification with helper phage, the titer of antibody library reached 5 × 10¹² cfu/mL. Human ScFv library against ovarian tumor was constructed successfully, which laid a foundation for the screening of ovarian tumor specific ScFv for the radioimmunoimaging diagnosis of ovarian tumor.

In order to construct an expression vector carrying small hairpin (sh) RNA (shRNA) for toll-like receptor 4 mRNA and a reporter gene of enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) and study the inhibition of cytokine release by RAW264.7 cell induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation through transfection and expression of shRNA targeting TLR4 gene via the RNAi mechanism, the reporter gene plasmid pEGFP-C1 (4.7 kb) and psiRNA-hH1neo (2979 bp) were used. The H1 promotor and double Bbs: restrict endoenzyme site were cloned from plasmid psiRNA-hH1neo and reconstructed them into plasmid pEGFP-C1 in the Mlu: restrict endoenzymic site, forming plasmid pEGFP-H1/siRNA, which contained Bbs site and reporter EGFP gene. Then an oligonuclear hairpin sequence targeting TLR4 gene was designed by internet tool and inserted into the plasmid pEGFP-H1/siRNA forming plasmid pEGFP-H1/TLR4-siRNA. After transfection of pEGFP-H1/TLR4-siRNA into RAW264.7 cells, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) release by the cells after stimulation by LPS was detected. The results showed that the constructed pEGFP-H1/TLR4-siRNA carrying hairpin RNA for TLR4 gene and reporter EGFP gene were proven to be right by restriction endonuclease analysis. The expression of EGFP gene was (50.37±8.23) % and after transfection of the plasmid pEGFP-H1/ TLR4-siRNA the level of TNF-α released by RAW264.7 cell was down regulated. It was concluded that shRNA targeting TLR4 gene could inhibit the TNF-α release by RAW264.7 cells evoked by LPS.

In order to investigate the expression change of survivin in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and its possible effects on NHL development, the expression of survivin, Ki-67, caspase3 and FVIIIRAg in reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (RH) and NHL was detected by immunohistochemical assay, and apoptosis index (AI) in RH and NHL by TUNEL analysis. The results showed that the expression of survivin is significantly higher in aggressive NHL than in indolent NHL (P<0.01), while there was no statistically significant difference between RH and indolent NHL (P>0.05). The expression of survivin had a significantly positive correlation with the expression of Ki-67 and FVIIIRAg (r=0.6495, 0.6635, respectively, both P<0.01), and a negative correlation with the expression of caspase3 and AI (r=−0.5820, −0.6013, respectively, P<0.01). It was suggested that survivin may contribute to the progression of NHL by playing an important role in promoting cell proliferation, inhibiting cell apoptosis and enlisting angiogenesis. Survivin expression is closely related to malignant grade and therefore may be considered an important prognostic factor of NHL.

The effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) in low doses supplementation on concentrations of polar retinoid metabolites (PRM) and retinoids in the ethanol-fed rat liver, and on hepatocyte injury were investigated. The rat model of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) was induced by intragastric infusion of ethanol, and then the rats were administrated with ATRA in two different doses (150 µg/kg body weight and 1.5 mg/kg body weight) for 4 weeks. Concentrations of retinoids in rat liver and plasma were determined by using HPLC. Liver tissues pathologic changes were observed under the light microscopy and electron microscopy. The serum transminases concentrations were measured. The results showed that the HPLC analysis of retinoids revealed that retinoids (vitamin A, RA, retinyl palmitate) concentrations in ethanol-fed rat liver and RA concentration in ethanol-fed rat plasma were markedly diminished (P<0.01) after ethanol feeding for 12 weeks. Furthermore, obvious peaks of PRM were formed in livers of ethanol-fed rats. ATRA 150 µg/kg supplementation in ethanol-fed rats for 4 weeks raised RA concentration in both liver and plasma, and also raised vitamin A concentration in liver to control levels, partially restored retinyl palmitate concentration (P<0.05) in liver. ATRA 1.5 mg/kg supplementation raised not only RA concentrations in liver and plasma but also retinyl palmitate concentrations in liver. However, the vitamin A concentration in liver of ATRA-supplemented rats (1.5 mg/kg) was higher than that of controls (P<0.05). The histologic observation of liver tissues indicated that ATRA treatment notably alleviated hepatocellular swelling, steatosis, the swelling of mitochondria and proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER). ATRA treatment greatly decreased levels of serum transaminases as compared with the only ethanol-fed group (P<0.05). It was concluded that low-dose ATRA treatment could restore retinoids concentrations and abolish the PRM formation in liver of ALD rats, and then ameliorate the injury of liver cells.

A 23 amino acid, bifunctional integrin-targeted synthetic oligopeptide was evaluated for ex vivo gene delivery to rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). Synthesis of the peptide (K)₁₆GRGDSPC was performed on a solid-phase batch peptide synthesizer. BMSCs were transfected with plasmid DNA coding for luciferase by (K)₁₆GRGDSPC and the transfection efficiency was assayed. The influences of chloroquine and polyethyleneimine on the transfection efficiency were also examined. The target specificity of (K)₁₆GRGDSPC to mediate exogenous gene into BMSCs was analyzed using cell attachment test and gene delivery inhibition test. The results showed that the transfection efficiency of the oligopeptide vector was lower than that of Lipofectamine. But in the presence of endosomal buffer chloroquine or endosomal disrupting agent polyethyleneimine, the transfection efficiency of the vector was greatly enhanced. In addition, RGD-containing peptides inhibited BMSCs’ attachment to the 96-well plates pretreated with fibronectin or vitronectin and significantly decreased the transfection efficiency of the oligopeptide vector. These studies demonstrated that oligopeptide (K)₁₆GRGDSPC was an ideal novel targeted non-viral gene delivery vector, which was easy to be synthesized, high efficient and low cytotoxicity. The vector could effectively deliver exogenous gene into rat BMSCs.

The transcription activity of ectogenic human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) promoter in lung adenocarcinoma cells A549 was investigated for the further gene-targeting therapy. The reporter gene green fluorescent protein (GFP) driven by CEA promoter and human cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter were relatively constructed and named plasmid pCEA-EGFP and pCMV-GFP respectively. The intensity of fluorescence was detected by fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry analysis after the pCEA-GFP and pSNAV-GFP plasmids were transfected into A549 cells through liposome respectively. The results showed (4.08±0.63) % of the A549 cells transfected with pCEA-AFP plasmid expressed, significantly lower than that of the A549 cells transfected with pCMV-GFP [(43.27±3.54) %]. It was suggested that ectogenic human CEA promoter in lung adenocarcinoma cells A549 was weakly expressed. The distinct specificity of CEA promoter in CEA high expression cells was regarded as a tool in selective gene therapy, but the transcription activity of ectogenic human CEA promoter was needed to increase in the future.

In order to construct plasmid of hypoxia-inducible factor-lalpha (HIF-1α), and transfect into human lung cancer cells A549, the change in sensitivity of lung cancer cells A549 to chemotherapy was observed. HIF-1α mRNA structure region was amplified by RT-PCR and inserted into plasmid pcDNA3. The expression plasmid pcDNA3/HIF-1α was transfected into A549 with Lipofec-tAMINE™2000. The expression of HIF-1α protein was detected by Western blot. After A549 cells were transfected with HIF-1α prior to addition of 5-Fu, the growth activity was measured by growth curve, apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry at 48 h, and the levels of caspase3 and MDR-1 were determined by Western blot. The results showed that the constructed expression plasmid was analyzed with restriction enzymes and gel electrophoresis. Two DNA lanes at 2.55 kb and 5.4 kb respectively were found, which were consistent with that expected. The growth rate in 5-Fu group was significantly inhibited, and the apoptosis index and caspase3 activity were increased significantly as compared with control group. After HIF-1α being transfected into A549, the activity of MDR-1 was increased and the effect of 5-Fu was weakened. In conclusion, HIF-1α can promote chemoresistance by increasing the activation of MDR1 and suppressing apoptosis during lung cancer cells A549 induced with 5-Fu.

The influence of L-arginine on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) was observed in experimental pulmonary thromboembolism and the action mechanism on pulmonary thromboembolism was explored. Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and treatment group. Pulmonary thromboembolism models were established by auto-blood back transfusion, and L-Arg 100 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected after successful model preparation. The animals were sacrificed at 3 h, 1 day, 3 days and 7 days after embolism. Plasma NO, TXB2 and 6-Keto-PGF1α were detected. The expression of eNOS and COX2 protein and mRNA in pulmonary tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR respectively. The results showed that pulmonary thrombosis could be seen post pulmonary embolism and inflammatory reaction was significant. Plasma NO was decreased (P<0.01), and the levels of TXB2, 6-Keto-PGF1α and T/P ratio were all elevated. The expression of eNOS protein and mRNA in the pulmonary tissue was down-regulated (P<0.05), while that of COX2 protein and mRNA was upregulated (P<0.01). In treatment group, the level of NO was increased, the levels of TXB2 and T/P ratio were decreased, but the level of 6-Keto-PGF1α was increased. The expression of eNOS protein and mRNA in pulmonary tissue was upregulated (P<0.05), while that of COX2 protein and mRNA was down-regulated (P<0.05). In conclusion, L-arginine can educe the role of pulmonary tissue protection through up-regulating the expression of intra-pulmonary NOS and down-regulating COX2 in pulmonary thromboembolism.

The association between atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) polymorphism and coronary heart disease (CHD) was studied in Chinese population. The genotypes of ANP T2238C and ANP C-664G were detected by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods in 158 consecutive CHD patients and 165 controls. It was found that the distribution of A2A2 genotype in CHD group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). Stepwise Logistic regression analysis revealed that male, smoking, history of hypertension, history of diabetes, family history of hypertension, high level of serum cholesterol, and ANP T2238C polymorphism were the possible risk factors in patients with CHD (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the patients with CHD and the control group in the distribution of ANP C-664G polymorphism (P>0.05). The results suggest that A2A2 T2238C genotype could be one of the risk factors for CHD (P<0.05, OR: 1.80, 95 % CI: 1.03–3.15).

The effects of Trichostatin A (TSA) on histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) expression, proliferation and cell cycle arrest in T-lymphoblastic leukemia cell line Molt-4 cells in vitro were investigated. The effect of TSA on the growth of Molt-4 cells was studied by MTT assay. Flow cytometry was used to examine the cell cycle. The expression of HDAC8 was detected by using immunocytochemistry and Western blot. The results showed that proliferation of Molt-4 cells was inhibited in TSA-treated group in a time-and dose-dependent manner. The IC50 of TSA exposures for 24 h and 36 h were 254.3236 and 199.257 μg/L respectively. The cell cycle analysis revealed that Molt-4 was mostly in G₀/G₁ phase, and after treatment with TSA from 50 to 400 μg/L for 24 h, the percents of G₀/G₁ cells were decreased and cells were arrested in G₂/M phase. Treatment of TSA for 24 h could significantly inhibit the expression of HDAC8 protein in Molt-4 cells (P<0.01). It was concluded that TSA could decrease the expression of HDAC8 in Molt-4 cells, which contributed to the inhibition of proliferation and induction of cell cycle arrest in Molt-4 cells.

The expression of human general control of amino acid synthesis protein 5 (hGCN5) in human Burkitt’s lymphoma Daudi cells in vitro, effects of Trichostatin A (TSA) on cell proliferation and apoptosis and the molecular mechanism of TSA inhibiting proliferation of Daudi cells were investigated. The effects of TSA on the growth of Daudi cells were studied by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The effect of TSA on the cell cycle of Daudi cells was assayed by a propidium iodide method. Immunochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expression of hGCN5. The proliferation of Daudi cells was decreased in TSA-treated group with a 24 h IC₅₀ value of 415.3979 μg/L. TSA induced apoptosis of Daudi cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner. Treatment with TSA (200 and 400 μg/L) for 24 h, the apoptosis rates of Daudi cells were (14.74±2.04) % and (17.63±1.25) %, respectively. The cell cycle was arrested in G₀/G₁ phase (50, 100 μg/L) and in G₂/M phase (200 μg/L) by treatment with TSA for 24 h. The expression of hGCN5 protein in Daudi cells was increased in 24 h TSA-treated group by immunochemistry and Westem blot (P<0.05). It was suggested that TSA as HDACIs could increase the expression of hGCN5 in Daudi cells, and might play an important role in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of B-NHL cell line Daudi cells.

The anticancer activity of trichostain A (TSA) on human B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and its mechanism were explored. The effect of TSA on the growth of Raji cells and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (NPBMNC) was studied by MTT assay. The effect of TSA on the apoptosis of Raji cells and NPBMNC was studied by flow cytometry and TDT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The effect of TSA on the cell cycle of Raji cells was studied by propidium iodide method. The results showed that TSA potently inhibited proliferation of Raji cells at microgram concentrations and induced apoptosis of Raji cells in a time-and concentration-dependent manner. Treatment with TSA induced accumulation of cells in G₀/G₁ or G₂/M and a concomitant decrease of cell population in S phase. However, NPBMNC was less sensitive to the cytotoxic effect of TSA than Raji cells. It was concluded that TSA may inhibit the proliferation of Raji cells by regulating the cell cycle and inducing the cell apoptosis. Moreover, TSA demonstrates low toxicity in NPBMNC but selectively induces apoptosis of Raji cells.

The effects of antisense FosB and CREB intra-striatum injection on the expression of prodynorphin (PDyn) gene in striatal neurons of Levodopa-induced dyskinesias (LID) rats with Parkinson disease (PD) were explored. PD model in rats was established by 6-OHDA microinjection stereotaxically. The rats were treated with chronic intermittent Levodopa celiac injection for 28 days to get the LID rats. Antisense FosB and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) were injected into striatum of all rats respectively. In situ hybridization was used to measure the changes in the expression of PDyn mRNA in striatum and behavior changes were observed. The results showed after administration of antisense FosB, abnormal involuntary movement (AIM) was decreased and the expression of PDyn mRNA in striatum was increased in LID rats as compared with sense FosB group (P<0.01, respectively). As compared with the control group, the expression of PDyn mRNA in striatum was decreased by antisense CREB-treated LID group (P<0.01) and compared with sense CREB treated LID group, antisense CREB-treated LID group showed no changes in AIM scores and the expressions of PDyn mRNA (both P>0.05). In conclusion, FosB protein, which replaced the CREG, could regulate the expression of PDyn mRNA and play critical role in the pathogenesis of LID.

The immune mechanism of Graves’ diseases (GD) and the roles of regulator T cells were investigated. In 32 patients with GD (GD group) and 20 healthy volunteers (control group), flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells, MACS to isolate CD4⁺ CD25⁺ cells, RT-PCR to assay the expression of FOXP3, and ELISA to test the level of IL-10, respectively. It was found that there was no significant change in the proportion of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells between GD group and control group (P>0.05), while secretion of IL-10 and expression of FOXP3 in GD group were lower than control group (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). In conclusion, though the proportion of regulatory T cells of peripheral blood lymphocytes in the patients with GD, the functions of them were significantly weakened, which might be a pathogenic factor in GD.

The proportion and changes of CD4⁺CD25^high regulatory T cells (Trs) in peripheral blood of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were analyzed and their clinical significance explored. The peripheral blood was collected from 61 patients with NSCLC and 15 healthy controls. By using monoclonal antibodies, the blood samples were evaluated with the flow cytometry for lymphocyte subsets (CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺) and CD4⁺CD25^high Tr cells. The results showed that the proportion of CD4⁺CD25^high Tr cells in NSCLC group was significantly higher than in control group [(4.36±2.07) % vs (2.04±1.03) %, P<0.01]. The proportion of CD4⁺CD25^high Tr cells in late stage was higher than that in early stage [stages: + II (2.26±0.6) %; stage III (3.28±1.38) %; stage IV (6.06±4.08) %] (P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that the prognosis of the patients who had higher proportion of CD4⁺CD25^high Tr cells in peripheral blood was worse (P=0.0026). In conclusion, the relative increase in CD4⁺CD25^high Tr cells in peripheral blood may be related to immunosuppression and tumor progression in patients with NSCLC. This finding suggests that CD4⁺CD25^+high Tr cells in peripheral blood of NSCLC may be positive for prognosis analysis. The use of depletion of the CD4⁺CD25^high Tr cell therapy to treat NSCLC patients may be an effective strategy.

The expression of Survivin, CDK4 and Ki-67 and the clinical significance in pediatric acute leukemia (AL) were investigated. The expression of Survivin, CDK4 and Ki-67 proteins was detected by using immunohistochemical assay in 37 children with AL and 10 children with normal bone marrow as controls. The positive expression rate of Survivin, CDK4 and Ki-67 was 45.9 %, 56.8 %, and 40.5 % respectively in 37 AL children, which was significantly higher than in control group accordingly (P<0.05). The expression of Survivin was positively correlated with CDK4 (P=0.007) and Ki-67 (P=0.008). In conclusion, all Survivin, CDK4 and Ki-67 proteins are over-expressed in pediatric AL and involved in the modulation of apoptosis and proliferation in pediatric AL.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) late mRNA expression in megakaryoblast and in turn the pathogenesis of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients with HCMV infection, and effectiveness of ganciclovir were investigated. Colony forming unit-megakaryocytes (CFU-MK) of 46 ITP patients with HCMV infection were incubated from patients’ bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNC). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was subsequently used for CFU-MK for HCMV-late mRNA detection. Ganciclovir therapy was given to both HCMV-late mRNA positive and negative groups for comparison of therapeutic effectiveness. The results in 19 of 46 CFU-MK culture cells specimens with positive HCMV-DNA by PCR or positive CMV-IgM by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the correspondent serum of peripheral blood were positive for HCMV-late mRNA. Sixteen out of 19 patients with positive HCMV-late mRNA CFU-MK had a positive response to ganciclovir. Amongst 27 patients with negative HCMV-late mRNA CFU-MK, only 4 positive responders to ganciclovir therapy were observed. Curative effectiveness of ganciclovir in HCMV-late mRNA positive group was significantly higher than that in HCMV-late mRNA negative group (P<0.01). It was suggested that HCMV could directly infect CFU-MK, which might be one of the mechanisms responsible for HCMV related ITP. The ganciclovir is an effective therapy in resulting in the increases in thrombocyte in the ITP patients whose HCMV-late mRNA was positive in their CFU-MK.

In order to assess the feasibility of subcutaneous administration of Triptorelin with 6-week intervals for the suppression of pituitary-gonadal axis and changes of clinical signs in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP), 46 girls with ICPP were treated with GnRHa. Triptorelin (Decapeptyl, 3.75 mg) was administered subcutaneously (SC) at 6-weeks intervals or intramuscularly (IM) at 4-weeks intervals randomly for more than 12 months consecutively. During GnRHa therapy, clinical parameters and laboratory data, including height, weight, pubertal stage, bone age, uterine volume and ovarian size, serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2), were monitored and analyzed. It was found that both treatment regimes led to regression of precocious puberty and reversal of secondary sexual characteristics. Breast developments regressed. Uterine volume was decreased after treatment, but there was no statistically significant difference. Mean ovarian volume did not change significantly during treatment. The height velocity was decreased significantly from 6.3 ± 1.4 cm/year to 5.8 ± 1.2 cm/year in group SC and 6.7 ± 1.3 cm/year to 5.4 ± 1.0 cm/year in group IM, respectively. The rate of bone maturation was reduced significantly during treatment. The ratio of delta/BA/deltaCA was 1.2 ± 0.2 or 1.3 ± 0.3 at the onset of therapy and decreased significantly after the treatment to 0.7 ± 0.2 or 0.9 ± 0.1, respectively. The predicted adult height was increased significantly and progressively during therapy. The levels of serum LH, FSH and E2 returned to the prepubertal condition. No significant side effects of therapy were noted. The most common side effect during SC treatment was that a non-irritating, 1 cm in diameter mass was palpated at the site of subcutaneous injection in the abdominal wall of patients, which disappeared after 6–12 weeks. Two girls had minimal withdrawal vaginal bleeding episodes after the first injection. It was concluded that both IM and SC triptorelin administrations were clinically effective. They induce profound suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis while stabilizing height velocity, slowing bone maturation and increasing predicted adult height. These results suggest that subcutaneous injection of triptorelin in 6-weeks intervals at a dosage of 3.75 mg be a safe and acceptable regimen for ICPP

The effect of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) on vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and the correlation between HIF-1α and lymphangiogenesis and lymph nodes metastases (LNM) in pancreatic cancer were investigated. Immunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the protein expression of HIF-1α and VEGF-C, and Lymphatic vessel density (LVD) was determined by stain of VEGFR-3, collagen type IV in 75 pancreatic head cancers from regional pancreatectomy (RP) during Dec. 2001 to Dec. 2003. The relationship between HIF-1α and VEGF-C, lymphangiogenesis, LNM was analyzed statistically. The results showed that the positive expression rate of HIF-1α and VEGF-C in pancreatic cancer tissues was 48.00 % (36/75) and 65.33 % (49/75) respectively. In positive group of HIF-1α, the positive rate of VEGF-C and LVD, and LVD rate was 80.56 % (29/36), 13.22±3.76 and 88.89 % (32/36) respectively, and in negative group of HIF-1α, positive rate of VEGF-C and LVD was 51.28 % (20/39), 5.98±2.17 and 66.67 % (26/39) respectively (P<0.01 or P<0.05). It was suggested that HIF-1α could promote the expression of VEGF-C, lymphangiogenesis and LNM in pancreatic cancer.

The effects of the cyclin E expression levels on chemotherapeutic sensitivity of breast cancer cell line were explored. After the cyclin E expression was knockdown in MDA-MB-435 by RNA interference, FACS analysis and SA-β-gal staining were used to evaluate the response sensitivity of breast cancer cells to DNA damage drugs (adriamycin, etc.). Adriamycin could induce G1 arrest in cyclin E knockdown MDA-MB-435 breast cell line and increase the percentage of cell senescence in cyclin E knockdown MDA-MB-435 cells. It was suggested that cyclin E knockdown could increase the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of breast cancer cells to DNA damage drugs.

The proliferation and differentiation of pancreatic duct epithelial cells in remnant pancreas during regeneration after partial pancreatectomy in rats were studied, and the source of pancreatic stem cells was characterized. Partial (90 %) pancreatectomy was performed on 4-to 5-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats, and different duct epithelial cells and acinar cells were detected by immunohistrochemical stain method and scored using 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling index (LI) at various time points after partial pancreatectomy. It was found that at 24 h after partial pancreatectomy proliferation started in the main, large and small duct cells, and persisted in small duct cells to day 5. There was significant difference between the experimental group and the control group (P<0.001). Acinar cells positive for BrdU were greatly increased and reached the peak LI on day 5. The destroyed lobular architecture almost totally recovered on day 7, and the newly islet cells appeared around the pancreatic ducts. These results suggest that regeneration after partial pancreatectomy is involved in proliferation and differentiation of pancreatic stem cells, and pancreatic stem cells may locate in the pancreatic ductules.

The changes of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, 4 of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the acute abdomen patients associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and their potential significance were explored. A clinical study was performed on 103 acute abdomen patients in whom 65 were associated with SIRS. Forty healthy individuals served as normal controls. The mRNA expression of TLR2, 4 was detected by RT-PCR, and the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 by ELISA. The level of plasma endotoxin, hospital stay and mortality were measured. It was found that the endotoxin level was increased to varying degrees in all the acute abdomen patients, and the endotoxin level was and hospital stay longer in SIRS group than in non-SIRS group (P<0.01). TLR2 mRNA, TLR4 mRNA, IL-6 and TNF-α could be detected with low value in normal controls, but they were up-regulated markedly on the 1st day after admission. Then TLR4 mRNA, IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased gradually, but TLR2 mRNA maintained at a high level till the 5th day. These indexes above in SIRS group were higher than those in non-SIRS group (P<0.01). The results of correlation analysis revealed the expression of TLR2, 4 mRNA was positively correlated with the levels of TNF-α and IL-6, and the hospital stay. The results of Logistic regression demonstrated that over-expression of TLR2, 4 mRNA might result in higher risk of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). It was concluded that in the acute abdomen patients associated with SIRS, the expression of TLR2, 4 in PBMCs was increased markedly, suggesting that TLR might play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute abdomen associated with SIRS.

In order to study the significance of FasL expression in immune escape of breast cancer, FasL protein expression and the number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in 40 specimens of breast cancer were detected by immunohistochemitry. The expression of FasL mRNA was measured by in situ hybridization in the consecutive tissue slices of 40 breast cancers respectively. By using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), apoptotic cells were detected in 40 specimens of breast cancer. The expression of FasL was detected in all 40 specimens to varying degrees. In the consecutive tissue slices, the location of expression of FasL protein corresponded with that of FasL mRNA. In those with FasL extensive expression, the number of TILs was less (P<0.05), the apoptotic index (AI) of TILs was higher and the AI of tumor cells was lower (P<0.01) than those with FasL weak expression respectively. The AI of TILs was correlated with that of tumor cells (r-−0.629, P<0.01). In conclusion, breast cancer cells can induce the apoptosis of TILs through the expression of FasL, which can counterattack the immune system. This may be a mechanism of immune evasion in breast cancer.

The whole length of exon 11 of BRCA1 was sequenced (total 3427 bp) in 59 patients and 10 healthy female blood donors. To allow a rapid determination of the different BRCA1 alleles, a sequence-specific primer PCR method (PCR-SSP) was established and was applied to 57 additional female donors. Finally, the full-length coding region of BRCA1 was analyzed through reversed-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and cDNA sequencing (total 5554 bp) in one donor with wild-type allele and 2 patients with one or two matated alleles. By genomic DNA sequencing, 5 homozygous polymorphisms were observed in 18 patients: 2201C>T, 2430T>C, 2731C>T, 3232A>G and 3667A>G All of them were previously observed in Caucasians, Malay and Chinese, but for the first time the mutations were found in one allele (GenBank AY304547). Twenty-six patients and 4 donors were heterozygous at these 5 nucleotide positions. The remaining 15 patients and 6 donors showed a sequence identical with the standard BRCA1 gene. Combined the PCR-SSP results and in a summary, 6 of 67 (9.0 %) healthy individuals were homozygous for the mutated allele, whereas 18 of 59 (30.5 %) breast cancer patients were homozygous. A Chi-square test showed a significant correlation between homozygous mutated BRCA1 allele and breast cancer. The cDNA sequencing showed that 2 additional mutations, 4427T>C in exon 13 and 4956A>G in exon 16, were found. A new BRCA1 allele, which is BRCA1-2201T/2430C/2731T/3232G/3667G/4427C/4956G (GenBank AY751490), was found in Chinese. And the homozygote of this mutated allele may implicate a disease-association in Chinese.

In order to evaluate the applied value of soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in acute rejection (AR) following liver transplantation, the expression of sICAM-1 protein was sequentially detected by using ELISA in serum and bile of 43 patients receiving liver transplantation. In AR group, the expression levels of sICAM-1 protein were increased 3 days before and immediately on the establishment of AR diagnosis, and there was significant difference in the expression of bile between AR group and control group (P<0.01). After reversion of AR with hormone intensive therapy, there was significant difference in the sICAM-1 protein expression of serum and bile between AR group and control group. It was concluded that the sequential detection of sICAM-1 protein level in serum and bile was a reliable and noninvasive method for the early diagnosis of AR after liver transplantation and was valuable to observe the curative effects of anti-AR therapy.

The expression and changes of local cytokines network were detected in heart transplantation in rats, so as to determine the role of cytokines in the acute rejection of rats of heart transplantation. Allografts were divided into 4 groups (n=12 in each group): group A (control), group B (IL-2 monoclonal antibody-treated), group C (CsA-treated) and group D (IL-2 monoclonal antibody+CsA-treated). Hearts from DA rats were transplanted into a cervical location in Wistar recipients. The local expression of IL-1β, IL-2, CD25, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, TNFα and INFγ was detected at day 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 14 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that the survival time of allografts was 8.3±1.7, 29.2±7.1 (P<0.05), 26.4±5.7 (P<0.05) and 55.0±10.6 (P<0.01) days respectively in groups A, B, C and D. The expression of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-10 and IFNγ was up-regulated, and that of IL-2, CD25, IL-5, IL-6 and TNFα was significantly inhibited in group A; The expression of IL-1β, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10 and IFNγ was up-regulated, and that of IL-2, IL-4 and TNFα was significantly down-regulated in group B; The expression of IL-1β, IL-2, CD25, IL-5, TNFα and IFNγ was up-regulated, and that of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 was significantly down-regulated in group C; The expression of IL-14, II-5, IL-6 and II-10 was up-regulated, and that of IL-1β, IL-2, CD25, TNFα and IFNγ was significantly down-regulated in group D. In conclusion, cytokines play an important role in the development of acute transplantation rejection. Different cytokines play different roles in different local environments.

The relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C)/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) expression and clinicopathologic features of the patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was investigated. The expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 was assessed in 65 patients with NSCLC by immunohistochemistry. The significance of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 expression was analyzed statistically. The results showed that VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 were highly expressed in cytoplasm and membrane in lung cancer tissues with the positive rate being 55.4 % and 52.3 % respectively, while there was no expression in the normal lung tissues. The expression of VEGF-C was significantly increased in a denocacinoma as compared to other types of NSCLC (P<0.05). The VEGFR-3 expression was closely related with lymph node metastasis (P<0.01) and TNM stage (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 expression in NSCLC patients (r=0.658, P<0.01). It is suggested that VEGFR-3 plays an important role in the lymphatic metastasis of NSCLC. The interaction between VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 may be deeply involved in the mechanism of lung cancer metastasis.

The cell killing effects and bystander effects of double suicide gene on pulmonary carcinoma cells were explored. Lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) were transfected with different titers of adenovirus vector and followed with different concentrations of 5-FC after a recombinant adenovirus vector carrying CD/UPRT gene (Ad-CD/UPRT) was constructed. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay 4 days later. The cell viability was dropped to 30.57 %–8.62 % after 10 MOI of Ad-CD/UPRT transfected and 5-FC (10–1000 µg/mL) administration. Furthermore, Ad-CD/UPRT-infected A549 cells showed a profound neighbor cell killing effect in the same methods. These results suggested that Ad-CD/UPRT/5-FC system can effectively suppress growth of lung adenocarcinoma cells, which may provide a novel and powerful candidate for lung cancer gene therapy strategies.

Lack of biocompatibility and bioactivity is a big problem for the synthetic materials that have been generated for neural tissue engineering. To get around the problem and generate better scaffold for neural tissue repair, we intended to generate nano-fibers by self-assembly of polypeptide IKVAV. Bioactive IKVAV Peptide-Amphiphile (IKVAV-PA) was first synthesized and purified, the property of which was analyzed and determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS). Then, by addition of hydrogen chloride (HCl), self-assembly of IKVAV-PA was induced in vitro and nano-fibers formed as shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effect of IKVAV nanofibers on adherence of PC12 cells was assayed in cell culture and the results showed that the rates of adherence of PC12 increased significantly when the density of IKVAV was within a certain range (0.58 µg/cm² to 15.6 µg/cm²). However, its effect on the rates of adherence did not significantly alter with time, whether after 1 hour or 3 hours of culture. In general, we showed that IKVAV-PA can successfully self-assemble to form nanofiber, and promote rapid and stable adherence of PC12 cells, and the effect of the self-assembled IKVAV to promote PC12 cells adherence is dosage-dependent within a certain range of densities.

In order to evaluate the efficacy of low intensity ultrasound and tissue engineering technique to repair segmental bone defects, the rabbit models of 1.5-cm long rabbit radial segmental osteoperiosteum defects were established and randomly divided into 2 groups. All defects were implanted with the composite of calcium phosphate cement and bone mesenchymal stem cells, and additionally those in experimental group were subjected to low intensity ultrasound exposure, while those in control group to sham exposure. The animals were killed on the postoperative week 4, 8 and 12 respectively, and specimens were harvested. By using radiography and the methods of biomechanics, histomorphology and bone density detection, new bone formation and material degradation were observed. The results showed that with the prolongation of time after operation, serum alkaline phosphatase (AKP) levels in both groups were gradually increased, especially in experimental group, reached the peak at 6th week (experimental group: 1.26 mmol/L; control group: 0.58 mmol/L), suggesting the new bone formation in both two group, but the amount of new bone formation was greater and bone repairing capacity stronger in experimental group than in control group. On the 4th week in experimental group, chondrocytes differentiated into woven bone, and on the 12th week, remodeling of new lamellar bone and absorption of the composite material were observed. The mechanical strength of composite material and new born density in experimental group were significantly higher than in control group, indicating that low intensity ultrasound could not only effectively increase the formation of new bone, but also accelerate the calcification of new bone. It was concluded that low intensity ultrasound could evidently accelerate the healing of bone defects repaired by bone tissue engineering.

In order to study the effects of dominant negative human telomerase reverse transcriptase (DN-hTERT) on cell growth and telomerase activity in osteosarcoma cell line MG63, MG63 cells were transfected with DN-hTERT-IRES2-EGFP9 (DN) or IRES2-EGF (I, blank vector) with lipofectamine 2000. The stably transfected cells were selected with G-418. Cell growth properties were examined under a fluorescence microscope. The hTERT mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Telomerase activities were measured by TRAP-ELISE. The tumorigenicity was studied with tumor xenografts by subcutaneous injection of cancer cells into nude mice. The results showed that cell growth was suppressed in MG63 cells transfected with DN-hTERT. The hTERT mRNA was increased in N-hTERT transfected-MG63 cells (MG63/DN). The telomerase activity was 2.45±0.11 in MG63/DN cells, while 3.40±0.12 in the cells transfected with blank vector (MG63/I), (P<0.05); DN-hTERT-expressing clones did not form tumors in 2 weeks, but the ratio of tumorigenesis was 30 % in nude mice bearing MG63/I (P<0.01). It was concluded that DN-hTERT could specifically inhibit the cell growth and telomerase activity in MG63 cells.

The effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on proliferation of G15 glioma cells and the possible mechanisms were investigated. GFAP and EGFR expression was detected by immunohistochemical method. After the cells were treated with EGF at different concentrations, cell count method was used to determine the proliferation of glioma cells, cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM), and laser scan confocal microscope (LSCM) was used to measure the cytoplasmic free calcium. The results showed that GFAP was diffusedly expressed in GL15 cells and EGFR was over-expressed. EGF at doses of ≤1 ng/mL could significantly stimulate cell proliferation, cells in phase G₀/G₁ decreased, and those in phase S increased. EGF at doses of 10 and 100ng/ml could inhibit the cell proliferation significantly, and the apoptosis ratio in high dose of EGF group was higher than in control group. EGF could significantly induce a quick rise of intracellular free calcium, but the peak value of intracellular free calcium activated by high dose of EGF was higher than by low dose of EGF. It was suggested that EGF had a dual effect on gliomas: low dose of EGF could stimulate the cell proliferation of gliomas, but high dose of EGF could induce the cell apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of gliomas, which might be contributed to the difference of intracellular free calcium.

The types of the voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) in human ejaculatory sperm and the effects of calcium channel blocker (CCB) on human sperm motility parameters in vitro were investigated. The human sperm motility parameters in vitro in response to the pharmacological agents nifedipine (NIF, inhibitor of L-type VDCC) and θ-contoxin (GVIA, inhibitor of N-type VDCC) were compared and analyzed statistically. The results showed that NIF (1, 5, 10 μmol/L) could not only significantly affect human sperm’s shape but also spermatozoa motility after incubated at least 10 min in vitro (P<0.001). GVIA (0.1, 0.5 and 1 μmol/L) could just only significantly affect human sperm’s progressive motility (a %+b %) after incubated for 20 min in vitro (P<0.01), but they both could not significantly affect spermic abnormality rate. It is suggested that L-type VDCC, non L-type VDCCs and isoform of L-type VDCC exist in the cell membrane of human sperm solely or together, and they participate in the spermic physiological processes especially the spermic motility.

The killing effects of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene/ganciclovir (HSV-tk/GCV) approach by the addition of several commonly clinical chemotherapeutic agents on hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) cells PC-3m were investigated. After transferring of the HSV-tk gene into PC-3m cells, mRNA and protein expression of HSV-tk was detected by reverse-transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and strept avidin-biotin complex (SABC) immunohistochemical method. The killing effect of GCV, cisplatin (CDDP), etoposide (VP-16), vincristine (VCR), methotrexate (MTX), 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), and suramin on PC-3m cells was evaluated by morphological assessment analysis, trypan blue exclusion assay and MTT assay respectively. Additionally, the cooperative effect of HSV-tk/GCV system combined with the above agents on the target cancer cells was determined by MTT. Furthermore, apoptosis and necrosis induced by GCV plus 5-Fu or suramin was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). The results showed that that there was HSV-tk mRNA and protein expression in pDR2-tk plasmid transduced PC-3m cell. Combination of GCV with VP-16, VCR, 5-Fu or suramin led to an enhanced cellular killing effect, but with CDDP resulted in a reduced one and with MTX in an approximate one. FCM revealed that synergistic use of GCV and 5-fu or suramin resulted in a rather large proportion of apoptosis and necrosis with the apoptosis index being 36.38 % and 35.51 %, and the proportion of necrosis being 33.05 % and 28.87 %, respectively. In conclusion, HSV-tk/CGV approach by addition of certain clinical available chemotherapeutic drugs brings on statistically significant enhanced cell killing over single-agent treatment. Our results highlight the potential for such new combination therapies for future treatments of HRPC.

In order to construct a recombinant plasmid containing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting survivin and to investigate its effect on survivin expression and cell apoptosis of human retinoblastoma cell line Hxo-rb44 in vitro, RNA interference plasmid pSIRENS that can express shRNA of survivin was designed, constructed, and transfected into human retinoblastoma cell line Hxo-rb44. Survivin and c-Myc expression was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. Apoptosis of Hxo-rb44 cells was assayed by Honchest33258 staining and cell growth curve was drawn. The results showed that the oligonucleotide targeting survivin was identified in pSIRENS plasmid. After pSIRENS plasmid transfected, survivin and c-Myc expression in Hxo-rb44 cells was decreased significantly. Apoptotic rate of cells was up-regulated from (3.5±1.29) % to (36.1±19.66) %. The proliferation ability of Hxo-rb44 cells were found when negative control plasmid was transfected. In conclusion, the plasmid containing shRNA targeting survivin was constructed successfully. It could inhibit efficiently the expression of survivin and c-Myc in human retinoblastoma cell Hxo-rb44 in vitro. The inhibition of the expression of c-Myc might be involved in the apoptosis of Hxo-rb44 cells.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of resection and cryotherapy combined with amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) with giant papillae (GP). Eight patients (16 eyes involved) with VKC, characterized by GP on the upper tarsal conjunctiva, underwent resection and cryotherapy in combination with AMT. The follow-up lasted for 3–22 months. The results showed that corneal shield ulcers and superficial punctuate keratitis healed during the first week after surgery and did not recur. Fourteen eyes (87.5 %) were symptom-free 1 month after surgery, and no GP, ectropion, trichiasis and other complications were noted, but the blood vessels of upper tarsal conjunctiva could not be clearly seen and a little conjunctival scar was observed. Recurrence of GP was observed in 2 eyes (12.5 %), with the area being less and irritation milder as compared with those before the operation. Among the two eyes, one eye was treated by cyclosporine eyedrops with improvement, but the other eye showed no improvement after the treatment, and underwent a second surgery with a cotton patch soaked in fluorouracil applied onto the supratarsal area after resection and cryotherapy. Four months after the treatment the patient presented no symptoms and GP did not recur. It is concluded that the resection and cryotherapy combined with AMT is an effective and safe treatment for VKC with GP.

The application of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT 3DE) in the diagnosis of double orifice mitral valve (DOMV) was explored. Five cases of DOMV were examined by using 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and RT 3DE. The spatial morphology of malformed mitral valve and its change in hemodynamics were observed. DOMV associated with partial atrioventricular septal defect was found in 3 cases (in which 2 cases had cleft mitral valve) and isolated DOMV in 2 cases; and moderate to severe mitral regurgitation was detected in 3 cases, and mild mitral regurgitation in 1, and no regurgitation in 1 case; 1 case had complicated rhumatic heart disease. Three cases were preoperatively discovered by 2DE, while 2 missed (1 case was discovered post-operatively). Four cases were diagnosed by RT 3DE preoperatively, and 1 case was diagnosed post-operatively (not examined by RT 3DE preoperatively). It was suggested that RT 3DE is a reliable technique in the diagnosis of DOMV; it permitted comprehensive and noninvasive assessment of mitral valve and may supplement 2D TTE in the assessment of DOMV.

The ultrasonographic appearances of osteosarcomas and the roles of ultrasonography in the diagnosis and surgical staging of osteosarcomas were investigated. A comparative study was performed on 45 cases of osteosarcomas by ultrasonography and radiography. Bony changes, periosteal reaction and soft tissue mass were evaluated for each lesion. The results showed that ultrasonography revealed a solid mass around bone in 42 patients, bone destruction in 24 patients and periosteal reaction in 16 patients. Plain radiographs showed bony changes in 44 patients and no bony change in remaining one patient, shadowing of soft tissue swelling in 30 patients, and pulmonary metastases in 3 patients. Surgical biopsy and pathological examination confirmed osteosarcoma in all 45 patients. Soft tissue mass was confirmed in 42 patients surgically. The diagnostic accuracy of soft tissue masses by ultrasonography and radiography was 100 % (42/42) and 71.4 % (30/42), respectively. The positive rate of ultrasonography and radiography in displaying bony changes was 53.3 % (24/45) and 97.8 % (44/45), respectively. In conclusion, in the detection of soft tissue mass of osteosarcoma, ultrasonography is superior to radiography, and in displaying bony changes of osteosarcomas, radiography is superior to ultrasonography. So it may come to a conclusion that plain radiography combined with ultrasonography can completely display the bony and soft tissue lesion of osteosarcomas.

The objective of this study was to characterize the genome structure of duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) isolated from Hubei brown ducks. The natural carrier rate of DHBV in adult ducks from Hubei area was investigated and the DHBV DNA-positive serum screened out. The complete genome of a DHBV strain was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned into T vector and sequenced. The results showed that the carrier rate of DHBV in Hubei brown ducks was 10 %. This strain (GenBank accession number DQ276978) had a genome of 3024 nucleotides with three overlapping open reading frames encoding the surface, core and polymerase proteins respectively. Comparison of the strain with 17 DHBV strains registered in GenBank revealed a homology from 89.3 % to 93.5 % at the nucleotide level. The sequences of the structural and functional domains of these proteins were highly conserved. The strain was found to share more signature amino acids in the polymerase genes with the “Chinese” DHBV strains than those of the “Western” country strains. This finding was also corroborated by a phylogenetic tree analysis. Therefore, the DQ276978 might belong to a subtype of the Chinese DHBV strains.

The effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression on matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells in vitro and the possible mechanism involved were investigated, and the correlation between the expression of VEGF and MMP-2 in NPC evaluated. The NPC cells were transfected with PAd-trackVEGF165 plasmid. The expression levels of VEGF and MMP-2 mRNA and protein in NPC cells were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. It was found that the expression of VEGF and MMP-2 mRNA and protein was significantly increased in NPC cells after transfection of VEGF165. It was concluded that the expression of VEGF was correlated to the in vitro invasion of NPC cells, and the induction of MMP-2 by VEGF was a key process of NPC cell invasion.