In this study, a novel 28-bp insertion-deletion (indel) polymorphism (AJ298878:g.47836-47853insCCTCAGACACTGAGTCTCCCCAACAGCA) was found in goat prion protein (PRNP) gene in 2373 goats from 13 Chinese native breeds. The frequencies of allele "ins" varied from 0.500 to 1.000 in different breeds. The establishment of association of the 28-bp indel polymorphism with production traits was performed in Inner Mongolia white cashmere (IMWC) and Xinong Sannen dairy (XNSN) breeds. Two significant associations between this polymorphism and 1-year-old body mass (P = 0.011) and average body mass (P = 0.024) were observed in IMWC breed, as well as wool thickness of 3-year-olds (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the novel 28-bp indel polymorphism was significantly associated with total solids in the evening (%) (P = 0.009) and milk yield (P = 0.016) in XNSN breed. These findings suggested that the 28-bp indel polymorphism was a potential DNA marker for eliminating or selecting preferred individuals in relation to production traits in goat marker-assisted selection breeding while carrying out preventing scrapie project.

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The experimental models of cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells (EC) in vitro were established. 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha), thromboxane B2(TXB2)content, plasminogen activator (PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity in cultured medium and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level in EC were measured with radioimmunoassay (RIA), chromogenic substrates methods, in order to assess the effect and mechanism of captopril (CP) on antithrombus function of EC. The results showed that after administration of CP, the contents of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and cAMP and PA activity were significantly higher, PAI activity were remarkably lower than those of control group. These effects were dose-dependent. Our finding indicated that CP might act as a prospective drug for antithrombosis through promoting anticoagulation and fibrinolysis function and increasing antithrombus action of EC.

In this study we compared the effects of radiofrequency (RF) energy applied to the swine endocardium in a unipolar fashion and in a bipolar one with two different interelectrode distances (5 mm, 10 mm). RF energy (500 kHz) delivered to the swine endocardium was divided into eight categories: 100 J, 101-200 J, 201-300 J, 301-400 J, 401-500 J, 501-600 J, 601-1000 J, and > 1000 J. The results showed that when RF energy was applied in a bipolar fashion, the lesions involved the catheter/tissue interface and partly the interelectrode spacing, while in a unipolar fashion. They were found in the catheter/tissue interface only. At any energy level, there were no statistically significant differences in lesion depths among all the three fashions, and the lesion surface areas produced by the bipolar fashion (with 5 mm or 10 mm interelectrode spacing) were all greater than those by the unipolar fashion (P < 0.05). When the delivered energy was under 500 joules, a greater lesion surface area was found in 5 mm bipolar fashion than in 10mm bipolar fashion (P < 0.05), while energy exceeded 500 joules, the differences in the lesion surface areas were no longer significant between these two bipolar fashions.

24 model rabbits with femoral arterial thrombosis were divided into two groups: the treatment group consisting of 12 rabbits which received API0134, and the control group composed of another 12 rabbits. 2 hours after recanalization by urokinase thrombolysis, reocclusion occurred only in 1/12 vessel (8%) with incomplete occlusion in the treated group, but in 8/12 (67%) with complete occlusion in the control group as assessed by angiograsphy. Pathological examination of specimen taken 24 hours after thrombolysis showed that 6/12 (50%) of the treated group gave the evidence of thrombus occlusion, and milder intimal injury and less adhered blood cells than in the control group, 83% of which had thrombus occlusion. In comparision with the control group, the function of platelet in the treated group demonstrated lower platelet aggregation rate (PAgR) and plasma thromboxane A2 (TXA2) level, higher prostacyclin (PGI2) and plasminogen activator (PA) activity as well as lower plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity. From the above it may be concluded that the preventive effect of API0134 on reocclusion might be due to inhibition of platelets aggregation and promotion of fibrinolysis.

The effects of amrinone on cardiac contraction and relaxation were assessed in isolated, perfused rat hearts. It was found that the left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), dp/dtmax and -da/dtmax did not significantly increase, and the time constant (tau) did not markedly shorten with perfusion of low concentration (1 nmol/L, 100 nmol/L) of amrinone. The perfusion with higher concentration (1000 nmol/L) of amrinone reduced LVDP (P < 0.01), dp/dtmax (P < 0.01), -dp/dtmax (P < 0.01), and prolonged tau (P < 0.05) significantly. It was assumed that amrinone has no direct positive inotropic effect, and can not improve cardiac relaxation. On the contrary, the cardiac contraction and relaxation will be inhibited at higher concentration of amrinone.

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