[Clinical features and lymphocyte subtypes in patients with IgG4-related diseases].

Objective: To deepen understanding of IgG4-related diseases (RDs), we analyzed the associated lymphocyte subtypes, and explored the pathogenesis and potential immunotherapeutic targets. Methods: Eighty-six patients with IgG4-RDs were enrolled, and their clinical characteristics, peripheral lymphocyte subtypes, and disease course were analyzed. Results: The mean age of the participants was 36-87(62±11) years; 51 were male (59.3%) and 35 were women (40.7%); and 34.9% had a history of allergy. Follow-up lasted 4.8 (0.4, 14.1) months. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain, and submandibular gland and lacrimal gland swelling (each 20.9%). Sixty-five (75.6%) participants had multiple organ involvement, and the most frequently affected organs were the pancreas (52.3%), submandibular gland (51.2%), and lacrimal gland (34.9%). A high eosinophil count; high IgE, IgG, IgG1, and IgG4 concentrations; and low complement C3 and C4 concentrations were present in 18.8% (16/85), 30.0% (24/80), 72.9% (62/85), 58.3% (28/48), 89.5% (77/86), 61.2% (52/85), and 50.0% (42/84), respectively, of the participants. In addition, 64.7% (55/85) were positive for autoantibodies, and the most frequent was anti-nuclear antibody (63.5%). The proportion of CD4+T lymphocytes increased in 25.7% (9/35) of the participants, which was accompanied by an increase in the ratio of CD4+/CD8+T lymphocytes (22.9%, 8/35). Importantly, most participants (90.0%, 18/20) had a high proportion of regulatory T (Treg) cells. High interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, and IL-10 concentrations were present in 50.0% (11/22), 33.3% (10/30), and 16.7% (5/30), respectively, of the participants. Substantial lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, fibrosis, IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration, and lymphoid follicle hyperplasia or ectopic formation were present in 79.2% (42/53), 67.9%(36/53), 35.8%(19/53) and 30.2% (16/53), respectively, of the participants. Fifty-three participants with detailed pathologic data were also further evaluated, of whom 24.5% (13/53), 3.8% (2/53), and 67.9% (36/53) had definite, probable, and possible diagnoses; and 3.8% (2/53) could not be diagnosed. Compared with baseline, the percentage of eosinophils and the IgE, IgG, and IgG4 concentrations decreased significantly; and the complement C3 and C4 concentrations had increased significantly after 6 months of treatment (all P<0.05). The IgG4 concentration after 6 months of treatment negatively correlated with that of C4, and positively correlated with the baseline concentration of IgE and the IgG4/IgG ratio. Conclusion: IgG4-RDs are a group of diseases characterized by male predisposition; multiple organ involvement; a high eosinophil count; high IgE, IgG, IgG1, and IgG4 concentrations; and a low C3 concentration. Peripheral CD4+T cells and Treg cells are also more abundant. The diseases can be controlled with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs in the majority of instances. The IgG4 concentration after 6 months of treatment negatively correlates with the baseline complement C4 concentration and positively correlates with the IgE concentration and IgG4/IgG ratio, which suggests that IgG4/IgG, IgE, and complement should be closely monitored to evaluate disease activity and the efficacy of treatment in such patients.

[Clinical effects of free superficial peroneal artery perforator flaps in repairing skin and soft tissue defects of the hallux].

Objective: To explore the clinical effects of free superficial peroneal artery perforator flaps in repairing skin and soft tissue defects of the hallux. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted. From January 2020 to January 2021, 13 patients with skin and soft tissue defects of the hallux who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery of Ruihua Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, including 12 males and 1 female, aged 26 to 53 years. Before operation, the perforating point of the superficial peroneal artery perforator was located by color Doppler ultrasound on the calf on the same side of the affected hallux and marked on the body surface. The operation was performed under spinal anesthesia combined with continuous epidural anesthesia. The area of skin and soft tissue defect after debridement was 4.5 cm×2.5 cm to 12.0 cm×3.0 cm. According to the size and shape of the wound, the superficial peroneal artery perforator flap was designed with the line between the fibular head and the lateral malleolus tip parallel shifting 2 cm to the tibial side as the flap axis line, and the perforating point of the perforator near the midpoint of the axis line as the center. The cut area of the flap was 5.0 cm×3.0 cm to 13.0 cm×4.0 cm, and part of the deep fascia was cut when the pedicle was freed. The donor site wound was sutured directly. During the operation, the number and type of the perforator and the cutting time of the flap were recorded, and the length of the perforator pedicle and diameter of the perforator were measured. The survival of the flap, the healing time and the healing condition of the donor and recipient areas were recorded after operation. The color, texture, elasticity of the flap, standing and walking functions of patients, the recovery of the donor area, and the patients' satisfaction with the recovery of the donor and recipient areas were recorded during the follow-up. At the last follow-up, the sensation of the flap was evaluated by the British Medical Association sensory function evaluation standard, the function of the affected limb was evaluated by the American Society of Foot and Ankle Surgery scoring system, and the excellent and good rate of the function of the affected limb was calculated. Results: A total of 13 perforators of the superficial peroneal artery were detected during the operation, all of which were septocutaneous perforators, and the perforator diameter was 0.3 to 0.5 mm. The vascular pedicle length was 2 to 5 cm. Flap cutting time was 11 to 26 minutes. The flaps of 13 patients all survived completely. The wounds at the donor and recipient sites healed well 9 to 18 days after operation. During follow-up of 6 to 14 months, the flaps had good color, texture, and elasticity; 11 patients had no obvious bloated appearance, and the other 2 patients underwent flap thinning and plastic surgery in the second stage because of their bloated appearance; all the patients returned to normal walking and standing functions. There was only one linear scar left in the donor site, with no obvious scar hyperplasia or hyperpigmentation. All the patients were satisfied with the recovery of the donor and recipient areas. At the last follow-up, the sensation of the flap was evaluated as grade S3 in 2 cases, grade S2 in 9 cases, and grade S1 in 2 cases; the function of the affected limb was evaluated as excellent in 7 cases and good in 6 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 100%. Conclusions: The free superficial peroneal artery perforator flap has relatively constant vascular anatomy, which is thin and wear-resistant, with less damage to the donor site after flap excision, and can preserve the shape and function of the hallux to the greatest extent. It is an effective method for repairing skin and soft tissue defect of the hallux.

[Analysis of recurrence and its influencing factors in patients with cervical HSIL within 24 months after LEEP].

Objective: To analyze clinical outcome of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) within 24 months after loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), and to explore risk factors of recurrent cervical HSIL, the risk of progress into cervical cancer and methods of follow-up. Methods: This retrospective study was carried out on 1 005 patients who underwent LEEP, diagnosing with HSIL after LEEP from January 2011 to December 2013 at Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University to confer the difference between non-recurrent group and recurrent group 24 months after the LEEP conization. Patients were followed with ThinPrep cytologic test (TCT), high risk HPV (HR-HPV) test, colposcopy guided biopsy. Results: A total of 1 005 cases were enrolled in this study with HSIL in the LEEP specimen, no residual HSIL in the 6-month follow up, and have follow up records in 24 months after LEEP. HSIL recurred in 5 cases, microinvasive carcinoma in 1 case, low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) in 17 cases at 12 months follow-up. HSIL recurred in 8 cases, LSIL in 11 cases, adenocarcinoma in situ in 1 case, and invasive cervical carcinoma in 1 case in Ⅰb1 stage at 24 months after LEEP. The recurrence rate was 1.3% (13/1 005) , and the progression rate was 0.3% (3/1 005) . There was no significant difference in age, length, circumference and width of LEEP between recurrent and non-recurrent patients (P>0.05) . The recurrence rate was highest in the endocervical positive margin group with 3/16, which was higher than ectocervical positive margin and negative margin (P<0.01, P=0.040, respectively). The recurrence rate of endocervical positive margin group and fibrous interstitial positive margin group showed no significant difference (P=0.320) . There was no significant difference between ectocervical positive margin and negative margin [2.8% (2/72) vs 0.7% (6/882), P=0.117]. Postoperative cytological examination combined with HR-HPV detection has a high sensitive and high negative predictor value of HSIL recurrence with both 100.0%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that positive endocervical positive margin, abnormal follow-up cytological examination and positive HR-HPV after LEEP were independent factors affecting recurrence of HSIL patients after LEEP (P<0.05). Conclusions: Age, length, circumference and width of LEEP have no effect on recurrence within 24 months after HSIL. The high risk factors for HSIL recurrence within 24 months after LEEP in HSIL patients include: positive HPV, abnormal cytology, and positive endocervical positive margin. Colposcopy biopsy and endocervical curettage have important role in diagnosing HSIL recurrence and progression.

[Characteristics of initial diagnosis in autoimmune liver disease: an 18-year, retrospective single-center study].

Objective: To analyze the chorological changes of diagnosis in patients with autoimmune liver disease (AILD) and related factors for early diagnosis. Methods: A total of 581 patients with age ranged from 16 to 81 were retrospectively analyzed, who were admitted to Tianjin Medical University General Hospital with AILD during January 2000 to December 2017. Age at diagnosis, diagnostic method and cirrhosis at diagnosis were compared in different groups according to admission period as 2000-2005, 2006-2011, 2012-2017. Results: The diagnostic rate of AILD showed an upward trend during the past near two decades. The proportion of AILD patients diagnosed via health examination was increasing year by year mainly by elevated transaminases (P<0.001). The mean age at diagnosis in our AILD patients were younger at present, especially in men (P=0.044). The proportion of cirrhosis at diagnosis was gradually reduced in three different periods respectively [77.78%(21/27), 41.58% (79/190), 25.00%(91/364), P<0.001], which were coincident in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) (P<0.001). The shrinking trend of cirrhosis at diagnosis was significantly correlated with the increasing application of health examination (r=-0.549, P<0.001). Conclusions: Extensive application of health examination expands the diagnostic rate of AILD. During the past 18 years, more young patients are diagnosed with AILD. The proportion of severe cases such as cirrhosis at diagnosis is decreasing. Screening of immunological examinations in patients with abnormal transaminases is needed and critical to the early diagnosis of asymptomatic AILD.

Influences of LncRNA SNHG20 on proliferation and apoptosis of glioma cells through regulating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE:   To investigate the influences of long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 20 (SNHG20) on proliferation and apoptosis of glioma cells, and further explore the mechanism of SNHG20 in the incidence and development of glioma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 80 cases of glioma specimens and 80 cases of para-carcinoma specimens were collected, and the expression level of SNHG20 was detected via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The human glioma U118 and U251 cell lines with the stable knockout of SNHG20 were constructed using the small-interfering RNA (siRNA). The influence of SNHG20 on proliferation of human glioma cells was detected via cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), and the protein expression levels of apoptosis-related genes, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), were also detected. The apoptosis level of glioma cells was detected in blank control group and SNHG20 siRNA group using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique. At the same time, the expression levels of proteins related to the phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten/phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxy kinase/protein kinase B (PTEN/PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway were detected via Western blotting. RESULTS: The expression level of SNHG20 messenger RNA (mRNA) in glioma tissues was significantly higher than that in para-carcinoma tissues (p<0.05). After the inhibition of siRNA on SNHG20, the proliferation of U118 and U251 cells was significantly inhibited, and the expression of Bax was significantly up-regulated, while that of Bcl-2 was down-regulated. The TUNEL results showed that the number of apoptotic cells in SNHG20 siRNA group was about 12 times that in control group (p<0.05). After SNHG20 knockout, the protein expressions in the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway were inhibited (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Inhibiting the SNHG20 expression in glioma cells can increase the apoptosis of glioma cells, and the mechanism may be related to the SNHG20-mediated PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Method using a co-culture system with high-purity intramuscular preadipocytes and satellite cells from chicken pectoralis major muscle.

Intramuscular fat is important in improving meat quality; however, the lack of high-purity intramuscular preadipocyte (IMP) in vitro has severely limited the in-depth research on the mutual regulation of myocytes and adipocytes in chicken. In this study, we establish a new method by combining the mature adipocyte ceiling method and the transwell co-culture system. Mature intramuscular adipocyte (MIA) and muscle satellite cell (MSC) were obtained from digested pectoralis major, and MIAs were transformed into IMPs by dedifferentiation with ceiling culture. MSCs were then purified by differential adhesion for 2 h. The results by inverted-microscope observation, MTT assay, Oil Red O staining, and q-PCR revealed that the de-differentiated cells from MIA were identified as the IMPs, and had the same the cellular morphology, the capacity on differentiation, proliferation and passage with the abdominal fat preadipocytes (P > 0.05). The applicability of the obtained IMPs in co-cultured experiment with the MSC revealed that it could meet the requirements of the experimental study. Finally, a co-culture system of IMPs and MSCs was established using a transwell chamber. The co-cultured results indicated that MSCs in the proliferative stage tend to accelerate the differentiation of IMPs to induce more fat content in co-cultured IMPs than in single-culture IMPs (P < 0.05), in the non-proliferative stage, the results tend to show the opposite (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels of related genes significantly changed in accordance with the fat content in cells. The results strongly supported the view that the established co-culture system was effective and feasible. In summary, we successfully found a new method to explore the interaction between myocytes and adipocytes of chicken. Our findings can deepen research on the regulation of chicken myocytes and adipocytes.

Expression and effect of Calpain9 gene genetic polymorphism on slaughter indicators and intramuscular fat content in chickens.

Calpain 9 (CAPN9) is expressed in the stomach and small intestine. CAPN9 has regulatory roles in hypertension, heart disease, gastric mucosal defense, and kidney disease. The involvement of CAPN9 has not been reported in the development of chickens. CAPN9 mRNA was found in adipose and muscle tissue in this study. Two linkage single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP; G7518A and C7542G) in intron 4 were screened from 160 birds of the D2 chicken line. The 2 mutation sites were associated with carcass weight, evisceration weight, abdominal fat weight (AFW), abdominal fat percentage (AFP), and breast muscle percentage (all P < 0.05). Intramuscular fat (IMF) content was not significantly different in the 3 genotypes. But, the AA(7518)/GG(7542) genotype had the highest IMF content, highest breast muscle weight, and lower AFW and AFP. Moreover, the mRNA level of CAPN9 in abdominal fat tissue was significantly different (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) between any 2 genotypes, consistent with AFW and AFP. In summary, the expression of CAPN9 in adipose and breast muscle tissue is reported for the first time. CAPN9 affected production performance of chickens. As a marker, the linkage G7518A and C7542G polymorphisms in intron 4 of CAPN9 could affect the production traits by regulating mRNA expression. The findings concerning the marker enrich the theoretical foundation for molecular breeding of high-quality broilers.

[Standard treatment of autoimmune hepatitis: experience from rheumatoid arthritis].

The treatment of autoimmune hepatitis is similar to that of rheumatic immune disease, which requires the use of hormones and immunosuppressive agents to induce and maintain remission therapy. As one of the most common diseases of rheumatology, rheumatoid arthritis has a definite treatment strategy and gradually becomes a new concept of rheumatoid disease. However, the current treatment of autoimmune hepatitis is still lack of standard compliance treatment strategies, and for the disease activity and immunosuppressive treatment of the efficacy of no uniform standard evaluation criteria, there is no clear evidence of the need to increase the hormone dose or the timing of treatment for patients with substandard treatment, so we consider the standard treatment of autoimmune hepatitis from the experience of rheumatoid arthritis of rheumatism, in order to provide reference for perfecting the standardized treatment of autoimmune hepatitis.

[Clinical outcome and high risk factor for residual lesion analysis of HSIL half a year after loop electrosurgical excision procedure: a clinical study of 1 502 cases].

Objective: To analyze clinical outcome of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) half a year after loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) and explore the high risk factor of residual cervical HSIL. Methods: The retrospective study was carried out on 1 502 patients who underwent LEEP, with HSIL in the LEEP histopathology from January 2011 to December 2013 at Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University to confer the difference between residual group and non-residual group after 6 months of the leep conization. Patients were followed with ThinPrep cytologic test (TCT), high risk HPV (HR-HPV) test, colposcopy guided biopsy (CBD) and endocervical curettage (ECC). The high risks of residual cervical HSIL was analyzed. Results: Among 1 502 cases, 48 (3.20%, 48/1 502) cases suffered HSIL residual disease. Forty cases were diagnosed by CBD, 4 cases were diagnosed by ECC. The other 4 cases were both positive in CBD and ECC. Residul rate were different among different age groups. The residual rate was higher in the age ≥50 years old compared to the age below 50 [9.70% (16/165), 2.39% (32/1 337); χ(2)=25.33, P<0.01]. For post-LEEP specimens, both circumference (2.5, 2.8 cm; Z=-3.17, P<0.01) and width [0.6, 0.6 cm; Z=-2.88, P<0.01) were less in HSIL lesion residual group than those in non-residual group, though length showed no obvious difference [1.5, 1.5 cm; Z=-1.55, P>0.05) . The residual rate of leep positive margin was obviously higher than that in the negative margin group [6.77% (18/266) vs 2.43% (30/1 236) ; χ(2)=13.30, P<0.01]. Different positive margin had diverse residual rate, as positive endocervical margin was 16.07% (9/56), positive margin undetermined was 7.29%(7/96) and positive ectocervical margin was 3.33%(4/120). Both positive endocervical margin and positive margin undetermined had a higher residual rate than residual rate (χ(2)=26.99, P<0.01; χ(2)=4.24, P<0.05). Abnormal cytology showed higher residual rate than the non-residual with significant difference [6.00% (6/100) vs 1.29% (14/1 083) , χ(2)=9.50, P<0.01]. In terms of the post-LEEP HR-HPV test follow-up, HR-HPV positive's residual rate was higher than that in the negative group [2.91% (6/206) vs 0.96% (7/727)], while there was no statistical significance (χ(2)=3.10, P>0.05). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that abnormal cytology in 6 month's follow-up post-LEEP conization was an independent risk factor on residual lesion (OR=3.75, P<0.05). Conclusions: Patient with age ≥50 years old and positive endocervical margin are high risk factors for the residual HSIL lesion after LEEP conization,especially for abnormal cytology during follow up is independent risk factor for residual lesion. Colposcopy directed biopsy and (or) ECC still play an indispendsable role in finding the HSIL residual lesion.

[The study of liver macrophages polarization in patients with autoimmune hepatitis].

To explore the functional phenotype of liver macrophages in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Compared with patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic hepatitis B (CHB), the absolute CD(68)(+) cell count in patients with AIH was significantly higher (all P<0.05). It was positively correlated with ALT and IgG levels (the correlation coefficients 0.600 and 0.700, P=0.285 and 0.188 respectively). Additionally, compared with patients with NAFLD, the absolute iNOS positive cell count in patients with AIH and CHB were significantly higher (all P<0.05). The expression of TNFα, iNOS and IL-1ß in patients with AIH and CHB were significantly higher than in patients with NAFLD (all P<0.05). Interestingly, compared with patients with AIH and CHB, the absolute CD(206)(+) cell count in patients with NAFLD were significantly higher (all P<0.05). CD(206) expression in patients with NAFLD was higher than patients with AIH and CHB, but with no statistical significance. M1 type macrophages over-expressed and played a major role in the inflammatory reaction and liver injury in patients with AIH.

Comprehensive understanding of health-seeking behaviour among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in China.

SETTING: In China, there were 918 000 tuberculosis (TB) cases in 2015 alone. The primary challenge facing TB control is the allocation of limited health care resources. OBJECTIVE: To gain a comprehensive understanding of the first choice of health care facility among Chinese patients with suspected pulmonary TB (PTB) and the number of visits required to make the diagnosis. DESIGN: Relevant full-text articles in three Chinese and one English literature databases up to November 2016 were reviewed. Meta-analyses were performed using Stata v12.0. RESULTS: Among 1257 potentially relevant selected articles, 27 cross-sectional studies involving 9891 patients were included in the final analyses. Most PTB patients chose county-level hospitals (40%, 95%CI 33-46) and village clinics (34%, 95%CI 27-42); only 13% (95%CI 10-16) of patients chose to visit PTB dispensaries first. Before obtaining the correct diagnosis, 28% (95%CI 11-44) of patients had to visit health facilities more than three times. CONCLUSION: Patients with suspicion of PTB were more likely to visit low-level facilities than dispensaries. Repeated visits resulted in both overall delay and high risk of PTB transmission. These findings suggest that a shift in government policy for PTB is required.

Polymorphism of SREBP1 is associated with beef fatty acid composition in Simmental bulls.

The sterol regulatory element binding factor 1 gene (SREBP1) plays an important role in the biosynthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol, and in lipid metabolism. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of genetic polymorphisms of SREBP1 on the fatty acid composition of muscle and carcass traits in Simmental bulls and Snow Dragon black cattle. The 84-bp insertion/deletion (indel) in intron 5 of the bovine SREBP1 gene was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction to investigate its associations with traits. The results showed that the 84-bp indel in intron 5 was significantly associated with palmitoleic acid (C16:1), stearic acid (C18:0), saturated fatty acids (SFA), triglycerides (TAG), and the C16 index in Simmental bulls (P < 0.05). Cattle with the LL genotype had higher palmitic acid (C16:1), triglycerides, and C16 index but lower stearic acid (C18:0) and SFA compared to those with the LS genotype (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the 84-bp indel of SREBP1 could be used as a genetic marker for selecting Simmental breeding stock for healthier fatty acid composition.

Linkage Disequilibrium Estimation of Chinese Beef Simmental Cattle Using High-density SNP Panels.

Linkage disequilibrium (LD) plays an important role in genomic selection and mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL). In this study, the pattern of LD and effective population size (Ne ) were investigated in Chinese beef Simmental cattle. A total of 640 bulls were genotyped with IlluminaBovinSNP50BeadChip and IlluminaBovinHDBeadChip. We estimated LD for each autosomal chromosome at the distance between two random SNPs of <0 to 25 kb, 25 to 50 kb, 50 to 100 kb, 100 to 500 kb, 0.5 to 1 Mb, 1 to 5 Mb and 5 to 10 Mb. The mean values of r(2) were 0.30, 0.16 and 0.08, when the separation between SNPs ranged from 0 to 25 kb to 50 to 100 kb and then to 0.5 to 1 Mb, respectively. The LD estimates decreased as the distance increased in SNP pairs, and increased with the increase of minor allelic frequency (MAF) and with the decrease of sample sizes. Estimates of effective population size for Chinese beef Simmental cattle decreased in the past generations and Ne was 73 at five generations ago.

Magnetocrystalline anisotropy in permalloy revisited.

Permalloy with a body-centered-cubic structure has been grown on GaAs(001) by molecular beam epitaxy. Its magnetism, Curie temperature, and magnetic anisotropy are determined experimentally and compared to those of conventional face-centered-cubic Permalloy. Unexpectedly the vanishing magnetic cubic anisotropy in Permalloy is found to be independent of its atomic structure but depends only upon the stoichiometry of Fe and Ni in the FexNi1-x alloy. This observation is further investigated and confirmed by first-principles electronic band calculations, which help to understand the long-standing issue of why Permalloy should be a soft magnet.

Effect of long-term fertilization on soil nitrate distribution.

A thirteen years long-term field fertilizer experiment was conducted to monitor the effect of different fertilization on soil nitrate distribution. The results showed: (1) Applying relative excessive N fertilizer could result large quantities of NO3- residue and NO3- movement downward in soil profiles; amending phosphate fertilizer or organic manure with nitrogen fertilizer together could significantly improve the status of NO3- leaching downward due to the balanced uptake of nutrients by crops. (2) Appropriate amounts of nitrogen fertilizer which was equal or smaller than the optimal fertilization rate could not result in more NO3- leaching in Northern China. (3) Precipitation influenced the amounts and depth of soil NO3- leaching: NO3- could move to 80 cm depth or below at autumn or at the next spring when rainfall was higher during the rainy season through July to September in North China.

Studies of the inheritance of seed qualities and the exploitation of F2 heterosis in low gossypol strains in upland cotton.

Twenty cross combinations were made with 4 recessive glandless lines (gl2gl2 gl3gl3) used as females and 5 dominant glandless lines (Gl2eGl2e Gl3Gl3) used as male parents to estimate the genetic variance components of kernel oil and protein content of seeds, oil and protein index, and kernel index using a genetic model for parents, F2 and F3. The results showed that all the analyzed traits were mainly controlled by additive effects. Oil content was controlled mainly by maternal additive effect, and other traits by direct additive effect. The average heterosis of F2 over mid-parent based on population mean was -1.99% to 1.11% for all these traits. It suggests that little inbreeding depression exists for F2 and F3 seeds. There were 75% and 60% of the F2 and the F3 combinations in which open-pollinated seeds contained gossypol levels lower than 0.4 gkg-1. This result indicated that it is possible to screen and select high yielding F2 hybrids with a gossypol content lower than the regulated criterion and without lowering seed quality.

[A preliminary study on relationship between Atractylodes lancea and A. chinensis as analyzed by RAPD].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between A. lancea and A. chinensis by RAPD analysis. METHOD: Using 10 random primers, RAPD of seven Atractylodes samples was performed. The result was analyzed by RAPDistance Package Version 1.04. RESULT: A total of 60 polymerphic loci were amplified. It appears that the Atractylodes samples tend to cluster in relation to their habitats, and A. lancea has close phylogenetic relationship with A. japonica. CONCLUSION: A certain correlation among the chemical composition, genetic diversity and geographic distribution has been revealed. It is reasonable to separate A. lancea from A. chinensis according to their habitats.

[p53 gene expression of human hepatoma cell lines and their sensitivities to parvovirus H-1].

DNA structure and expression of p53 gene in human hepatoma cell lines SMMC-7721, YY-8103 and a spontaneously transformed liver cell line L-02 were analysed using the following method: analysis of allelic losses on chromosome 17p, PCR/SSCP, Northern blot and immunoprecipitation. There was no point mutation found in the exons 4-9 of the p53 gene, and a low level of expression of p53 gene was detected in the three cell lines. These observations were in agreement to the reported results of the relevant experiment using the human hepatoma cell line QGY-7703. Sensitivities of these cell lines and other eight human hepatoma cell lines (QGY-7703, PLC/PRF/5, Tong/HCC, Huh-7, FOCUS, Hep3B, SK-Hep-1, HepG2) with known p53 backgrounds to parvovirus H-1 was assayed using MTT method. Abnormality in the structure and/or function was observed in all of the cell lines examined except HepG2. The cell line HepG2 with normal structure and function of the p53 gene was found to be the least sensitive to H-1 in comparison to all the cell lines which have defeated structure and/or function of the p53 gene. The present study serves as a preliminary evidence that enhancement of the sensitivity of human hepatoma cell lines to H-1 is correlated to the abnormality of the structure and/or function of the p53 gene.