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Objective: To study the effects of green tea polyphenol (GTP) on the behaviour of Alzheimer' s Disease like mice induced by D-galactose and Abeta25-35., Methods: D-galactose (120 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into mice for 12 weeks and Abeta25-35 (4nmol) was injected by icv to establish Alzheimer' s Disease like mice. The protective and therapeutic effects of GTP were determined by using water maze test, step down test, step through test and open field test., Results: GTP ameliorated the deleterious effects of D-galactose and Abeta25-35, and thereby improved the animal' s learning and memory, prolonged latency time, and the error numbers were significantly reduced. At the same time the autonomic activities were significantly increased., Conclusion: GTP can improve the behaviour of Alzheimer' s Disease like mice induced by D-galactose and Abeta25-35.

Objective: To observe the effects of Radix Puerariae on protein glycation in model rats induced by D-galactose., Methods: The model rats of protein glycatin were induced by intraperitoneal administration of D-galactose (150 mg/kg) for 8 weeks, and all rats were treated by Radix Puerariae (High dose 300 mg/kg, Middle dose 150 mg/kg, Low dose 75 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. The activity of aldose reductase in red blood cells, the content of fructosamine in serum, the amount of glycohaemoglobin and advanced glycation end-products, the level of insulin in serum, the activity of superoxide dismutase and the amount of maleic dialdehyde were measured., Results: High dose and middle dose of Radix Puerariae could decrease the level of blood glucose and the activity of aldose reductase in red blood cells, inhibit the formation of glycation products significantly in model rats induced by D-galactose (P < 0.01), increase insulin sensitivity and activity of superoxide dismutase (P < 0.01) and decrease the amount of maleic dialdehyde (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Puerariae can significantly inhibit glycation reaction in rats induced by D-galactose.

The technique of nanometer scale manipulation is very important in constructing nano-structures and nano-devices. By using atomic force microscope, three kinds of controllable manipulation on single-DNA molecules were introduced in the paper. DNA molecules deposited and extended on modified mica surface were first imaged by tapping mode, then cutting, bending, and pushing were respectively performed on single-DNA molecules. The results of the manipulation depend on the interaction between tip and DNA as well as between substrate and DNA.

The recent discovery of a pterosaur egg with embryonic skeleton and soft tissues from the Yixian Formation confirmed that the flying pterosaurs were oviparous. Here we describe another pterosaur egg whose exquisite preservation indicates that the shell structure was soft and leathery.

Objective: To investigate the association between insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and the A/B polymorphism of the chymase (CMA) gene with regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with essential hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. The study subjects had been participants in along-term trial of therapy with an ACE inhibitor., Methods: Follow-up data of 157 patients with essential hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy were collected. DNA fragments of ACE gene and CMA gene were amplified by PCR and analysed by RFLP. LVDd, IVST and LVPWT were measured by Ultrasonic Cardiogram (UCG)., Results: (1) When long-term treatment with Benazepril was carried out, the blood pressure was markedly decreased and the heart rate was maintained steadily. (2) Regression of left ventricular hypertrophy was improved. (3) The magnitudes of regression of LVM and LVMI during therapy were greater in the DD group than in the II and ID group. No significant differences of other indices were found in the different genotype groups of ACE. (4) No significant differences of all indices were found in the different genotype groups of CMA. (5) No interaction appeared between the genotypes of the ACE and the genotypes of the CMA., Conclusion: Hypertensive patients with DD genotype were more likely to have regression of left ventricular hypertrophy when treated with ACE inhibitors than patients with other ACE genotypes. No evidence was found to support an association between CMA genotype and regression of LVH in those patients.

Background: In China the ginseng root began to be used in medicine over 2000 years ago. Ginsenosides are the most important component isolated from ginseng. The authors investigated the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on the spectrum of gene expression in the endothelial cells stimulated by TNF-alpha and further explored the potential molecular mechanism of endothelial protection by ginsenoside Rg1., Methods: Nitric oxide (NO) production in the cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was measured by using an NO assay kit. A home-made oligonucleotide microarray containing approximately 400 cardiovascular disease-related genes was constructed. The alteration of the spectrum of gene expression induced by ginsenoside Rg1 in HUVECs which were activated by TNF-alpha were detected by oligonucleotide microarray analysis., Results: NO production in HUVECs was decreased significantly after TNF-alpha treatment, while pretreatment with ginsenoside Rg1 enhanced NO production in TNF-alphastimulated HUVECs. Ginsenoside Rg1 affected the expression levels of genes involved in vascular constriction, cell adherence, coagulation, cell growth and signal transduction in TNF-alphastimulated HUVECs., Conclusions: Ginsenoside Rg1 could enhance NO production and the expression of eNOS mRNA in TNF-alpha stimulated HUVECs. Ginsenoside Rg1 regulated sets of genes in endothelial cells and protected endothelial cells from TNF-alpha activation. Microarray analysis provided us with valuable insights into the atheroprotective mechanism by gingsenoside Rg1.

Water-soluble inclusion compounds of beta-cyclodextrin with lycopene were prepared by two methods: (1) complexation in solution and (2) complexation by kneading. It was found that UV-Vis spectra of the inclusion complexes in water are different from those of lycopene in water-miscible organic solvents (tetrahydrofuran) and beta-cyclodextrin in water, which confirms the formation of the inclusion complexes. Specific interactions of lycopene and beta-cyclodextrin cause great changes in absorbance maximum (lambdamax) of lycopene. It is considered that the inclusion complexes in water are formed as supermolecular aggregates with nanometer size, after card-pack type lycopene is included by beta-cyclodextrin in molecular level.

Objective: To evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of 3 surgical approaches via superior intermedial margin of the pubis, inferior medial margin of the pubis, and the perineum, respectively, in the treatment of posterior urethral stricture., Methods: Thirty-five adult male corpses were dissected in which the distances from the bulbo-membranous urethra conjunction (D), the apex of prostate (E), and the bladder neck (F) to the superior medial margin of the pubis (A), the inferior medial margin of the pubis (B) and the midpoint of linear distance between the two ischial tuberosities on the perineum (C) were respectively measured and compared. Another 20 adult male corpses were subjected to the 3 surgical approaches as described above and the urethra was exposed to identify the tissues and organs with possible injuries resulted from the surgery, which were evaluated by scoring., Results: The distances measured were as follows: AD=6.5+/-0.5 cm, BD=2.2+/-0.5 cm, CD =3.4+/-0.6 cm, and BD0.05, t=0.13). The angles FAE (beta(1)) =(22.7+/-2.6)(degrees), FBE (beta(2))=(32.9+/-6.4)(degrees), FCE (beta(3))=(15.0+/-3.2)(degrees), and beta(2) beta(1) beta(3) (P=0.05, SNK means). The score for tissue and organ injuries for the approach of the superior medial margin of the pubis was 13, 20 for the approach of inferior medial margin of the pubis, and 15 for perineum approach., Conclusions: In terms of operative field exposure, the best operation approach is via the inferior pubis, followed by superior pubis approach and perineum approach; while in view of the injuries, superior pubis approach is better than the perineum and inferior pubis approaches. The inferior pubis approach should be the primary choice in the treatment of posterior urethral stricture.

Hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) gene (C gene) was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the products (rHBcAg or core particles) were purified from a crude lysate of the yeast by three steps: Sephrose CL-4B chromatography, Sucrose step-gradient ultracentrifugation and CsCl-isopycnic ultracentrifugation. It has been observed that HBcAg was synthesized in yeast cells as a particle consisting of polypeptides with a molecular weight of 21.5 kDa (p21.5). Results of ELISA test and density analysis of CsCl-isopycnic ultracentrifugation indicated that the purified products (rHBcAg particles) with HBcAg antigenicity mainly located at the densities of 1.27 and 1.40 g ml(-1), respectively. Observation and analysis of the purified rHBcAg products by TEM indicated that rHBcAg peptides could mainly self-assemble into two size classes of core particles. The larger particles were approximately 30.1 nm and the smaller were approximately 21.5 nm in mean diameter. Further observation and analysis of the same rHBcAg (core) particles by AFM also indicated that rHBcAg (core) particles were similar to the native HBcAg (core) particles from infected human hepatocytes and mainly composed of two size classes of partides core. The larger particles were approximately 31.3 nm and the smaller were approximately 22.5 nm in mean diameter which was similar to the results obtained by TEM. All results from both TEM and AFM suggested that core particles (capsids) produced in S. cerevisiae possessed dimorphism.

Objective: To improve Madigan prostatectomy (MPC) for a much satisfactory effect in open surgery., Methods: A total of 52 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were treated using MPC. The MPC procedure was modified by exposing anterior prostatic urethra near the bladder neck and conjunction with cystotomy. This modified procedure preserved prostatic urethra intact and could also deal with intracystic lesions at the same time., Results: The intact of prostatic urethra was kept completely or almost for 48 cases. The hemorrhage amount during modified procedure was a less. The mean operative time was 120 minutes. The 35 patients had been followed up for 1 - 12 months. The average Qmax was 18.9 ml/s. The cystourethrography revealed that the urethra and bladder neck were intact in 8 patients postoperatively. Furthermore, the prostatic urethra was obviously wider after modified MPC., Conclusions: The modified MPC can reduce the urethra injury and enlarge the MPC indications. The modified technique is easy to perform with little complications and much more satisfactory clinical result. The modified MPC is highly recommended.

Objective: To compare the complications of direct and antirefluxing techniques of ureterointestinal anastomosis in continent urinary diversion., Methods: Sixty-three patients underwent continent urinary diversion. Twenty-four patients were treated by the direct ureteroenteric anastomosis and the others treated by the antirefluxing technique. The follow up studies included following-up the information of ureteric stricture, ureteric reflux, renal function and acute urinary infection. It was assessed for 3 months to 6 years with a mean follow up of 26 months after operation., Results: Of 78 ureters reimplanted using antirefluxing technique. A total of 12 ureters had anastomotic stricture formation postoperatively. Only one of 48 ureters reimplanted using direct anastomoses had anastomotic stricture. The difference between the direct and antirefluxing technique groups was remarkable (chi2 = 4.375, P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the direct and antirefluxing technique groups in regard to ureteric reflux, renal function and acute urinary infection., Conclusions: Antirefluxing anastomoses resulted in obviously higher rate of ureterointestinal anastomotic stricture in comparison with the direct anastomosis. The direct ureteroenteric anastomosis may be the suitable choice for patients undergoing continent urinary diversion.

Objective: To study a method for using a new drainage stent following complex posterior urethral operation., Methods: Fifty-five patients,15 of whom had complex posterior urethrorectal fistula, 35 had complex posterior stricture or atresia, and 5 had bladder exstrophy, received surgical treatment, after which multihole U-shaped drainage stent was applied., Results: All the patients were normal in micturition and no complications occurred during the follow-up period lasting for 1 to 10 years., Conclusion: Multihole U-shaped drainage stent performs the functions of both stenting and drainage, and is applicable in complex posterior urethral surgery.

Heart and blood vessels are the pivotal organs that make up of the important system, cardiovascular system, of the body. They are associated functionally and both have the contractility. The pressure of the ventricles can elevate to a high level in a short time when heart contracts, so the cardiomyocytes should contract rapidly and powerfully. The contractile structure and the process of the calcium-modulation are required to meet the demand. The contractility of blood vessels is of slow and per durable characters which are compatible to the related function. This article describes the contractive structure and mechanism, and the related calcium-modulation mechanism cytologically, furthermore, introduces their differences and similarities, respectively.

This paper presents a group of new experiments on human olfactory threshold measurement. It is a successful educational reform in teaching of genetic experiment. It considered not only training students' skills in the research on population genetics and investigating local population's olfactory allelic frequency, but also class experiments and research out of the class.

Aim: To investigate the role of the mitochondrial pathway in JTE-522-induced apoptosis and to investigate the relationship between cytochrome C release, caspase activity and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsim)., Methods: Cell culture, cell counting, ELISA assay, TUNEL, flow cytometry, Western blot and fluorometric assay were employed to investigate the effect of JTE-522 on cell proliferation and apoptosis in AGS cells and related molecular mechanism., Results: JTE-522 inhibited the growth of AGS cells and induced the apoptosis. Caspases 8 and 9 were activated during apoptosis as judged by the appearance of cleavage products from procaspase and the caspase activities to cleave specific fluorogenic substrates. To elucidate whether the activation of caspases 8 and 9 was required for the apoptosis induction, we examined the effect of caspase-specific inhibitors on apoptosis. The results showed that caspase inhibitors significantly inhibited the apoptosis induced by JTE-522. In addition, the membrane translocation of Bax and cytosolic release of cytochrome C accompanying with the decrease of the uptake of Rhodamin 123, were detected at an early stage of apoptosis. Furthermore, Bax translocation, cytochrome C release, and caspase 9 activation were blocked by Z-VAD.fmk and Z-IETD-CHO., Conclusion: The present data indicate a crucial association between activation of caspases 8, 9, cytochrome C release, membrane translocation of Bax, loss of Deltapsim and JTE-522-induced apoptosis in AGS cells.

A novel transcript of human HPO (HPO-205) encoding a 205 amino acid ORF corresponding to a translated product of 23 kD different from the previous HPO that lacks the N-terminal 80 amino acids, was isolated from human fetal liver cDNA library by 5'RACE methods. The dose-dependent stimulation of DNA synthesis of HepG2 hepatoma cells by HPO-205 demonstrated its similar biological activity with HPO in vitro. The level of MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)phosphorylation was further examined by Western blot analysis and the result revealed that HPO-205 protein might have stronger activity on stimulating hepatic cell proliferation than that of HPO. The similar result was observed by FACS technique. Therefore, our results suggest that the HPO-205 has activity to stimulate proliferation of liver derived cells, and this activity may be stronger than HPO.

To study the biological function of EDAG-1, a novel gene cloned by our lab recently, the EDAG-1 cDNA was subcloned into pcDNA3. 1(+) vector and transfected into NIH3T3 cells by Lipofect AMINE methods. Overexpression of EDAG-1 in NIH3T3 cells resulted in loss of cell contact inhibition, anchorage-independent growth in soft agar and tumor formation in nude mice. These results suggest that EDAG-1 is a transforming gene and may be associated with the development of tumors, especially in hematopoietic system.