A novel method for assaying the enzymatic activity of ribosome-inactivating proteins(RIPs) has been developed.The principle of the method is based on that RIP can remove some adenine bases from double-stranded supercoiled DNA molecules,subsequently,the deadenylated DNA was cleaved into nicked and linear form.After treatment with acidic aniline,the deadenylated DNA was degraded into many small fragments,and run out of the gel.The enzymatic activities of two RIPs(trichosanthin and cinnamomin) were tested using this method,the limit of sensitivity is about 50 ng(trichosanthin) and 5 ng(reduced cinnamomin) .It should be emphasized that the merit of this method is to avoid the preparation of ribosome.

The authors have applied the Omaha system in six different researches conducted in Hong Kong and mainland China in the last ten years. These researches have been conducted using different client groups,specialty nurses,and in the hospital,clinic and community settings. The Omaha system was found to be instrumental in serving as a conceptual framework for study,designing the intervention protocol,identifying clients' health problems,defining nursing interventions and evaluating research outcomes. The Omaha system is a valuable tool for research and practice and is worth exploring further for its application in mainland China,particularly in the areas of community nursing and transitional care.

AIM:To explore the effect of aldosterone on visfatin gene expression and secretion in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes or adipocytes.METHODS:Aldosterone at concentration of 10-8 or 10-6 mol/L with or without 10-6 mol/L spironolactone was added to cultured 3T3-L1 preadipocytes or adipocytes for 24 h or 48 h.The mRNA levels of visfatin and mineralocorticoid receptor were measured using real time PCR.The concentration of visfatin in the culture medium was determined by ELISA.RESULTS:In 3T3-L1 preadipocytes treated with aldosterone,the mRNA expression of visfatin reduced and the mRNA expression of mineralocorticoid receptor(MR) increased,but the concentration of visfatin in culture medium was not regulated significantly by aldosterone.In adipocytes with aldosterone treatment,the mRNA expression of visfatin and visfatin concentration in culture medium reduced,and mRNA expression of MR increased.The effect of aldosterone was blocked by spironolactone to some extent.CONCLUSION:Aldosterone inhibits the gene expression and protein secretion of visfatin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Objective To establish the mice model of AHL, to investigate the relationship between AHL and the cytoactive factors of the cochlear hair cells in C57BL/6J mice, and to classify the presbycusis models of the C57BL/6J mice. Methods C57BL/6J mice were divided into 6 experimental groups by age (A: 3 months old(m), B: 8 m, C: 9 m, D: 10 m, F: 17 m, G: 18 m) . The auditory functions mice were measured by auditory brainstem response (ABR) with the stimulus click and toneburst at 6 kHz and 8 kHz. 3 months later, Groups C , G, E and H were tested again for ABR. After ABR testing, the cytoactive of the hair cells was detected by succinate dehydrogenase staining and surface preparation technique(two mice from each group except groups C and G). Results The ABR thresholds elevated with age, and the marked change of the cochlea was the degeneration of the cytoactive of the cochlear hair cells, especially those of the outer hair cells. In the beginning, the basement of the basal membrane suffered from the mitochondrion degeneration in the outer hair cells, then it spread to the top region. Subsequently, the inner hair cells were involved. Conclusion C57BL/6J mouse was a typical animal model for the AHL,and the main change of the cochlea was the degeneration of the hair cells, especially the outer hair cells. Thus, C57BL/6J mice can be used as a suitable animal model for the study of presbycusis.

Objective To develop an evidence-based community extended care model for patients with asthma.Methods Mixed research methods were applied to integrate best evidences:80 literatures were included in systemic review; 394 medical records were analyzed; 112 nurses admitted a test and a questionnaire to assess their competence on asthma care; clinical observation to both hospital and community centers were conducted; 6 multidisciplinary experts were consulted; and 100 patients admitted a questionnaire on patient needs and 17 of them were further interviewed.Results The nursing care model with the feature of hospital and community health service center collaborating to provide extended care for patients with asthma was established.Conclusions The development of a nursing care model for practice should be based on the current best evidence generating from the best research evidence,professional judgment on clinical practice requirement and patients' needs.

Objective To compare the value of intrarectal filling with water and filling in rubber sheath with water in endoluminal uhrasonography for preoperative staging of rectal tumors. Methods 215 cases of rectal tumors were divided into two groups. 120 cases using the method of filling in rubber sheath with water and 95 cases using intrarectal filling with water were diagnosed with uhrasonography. The results were compared with corresponding pathologic results for the judgment of their accuracy. Results The accuracy for the diagnosis of infiltration depth was 60.0 % in the first group and was 73.7 % in the second. The difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). The accuracy for diagnosis of metastases of perirectal lymph nodes was 82.5 % in the first group and was 80.0 % in the second. The difference has no statistical significance (P >0.50). Conclusion Intrarectai filling with water is better than filling in rubber sheath with water in the diagnosis of infiltration depth of rectal tumors, while there is no difference in the diagnosis of metastasis of perirectal lymph nodes.

Objective To study the changes of left ventricular(LV) function before and after rAAV2-GFP targeted to myocardium by the ultrasound mediated microbubbles. Methods Twenty rats were divided into 2 groups. Ten rats underwent ultrasound mediated microbubbles destruction without rAAV2-GFP as control. Another ten rats underwent ultrasound mediated microbubbles destruction containing rAAV2-GFP as experimental group. The mean value of LV rotation of rats was obtained in apical and base plane using speckle tracking imaging(STI) software. LV torsion(LVtor) was defined as apical rotation relative to the base. LV function including circumferential strain,circumferential strain rate of systolic and early diastolic and late diastolic, torsion, time to peak, ejection fraction, fractional shortening, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume of LV,heart rate and so on were also measured before and after 14 days. Other rats were killed after 14 days and hearts were harvested. GFP protein expression which showed rAAV2 transfer was observed under fluorescence microscope in frozen section. Results There was no significant difference of LV function of rats before and after rAAV2-GFP myocardium transfection by the ultrasound mediated microhubbles. Conclusions LV myocardial function has no significant difference before and after delivering rAAV2 to the heart in vivo by ultrasound-mediated microbubbles destruction.

Objective To investigate relationship between adiponectin and cardiac damage induced by aldosterone in SD rats. Methods Male SD rats were treated with aldosterone infusion for 4 weeks, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured every week. At the end of experiment, the myocardial structure was observed, the levels of adiponectin in plasma and adiponectin mRNA expression of adipose tissue in epididymal fat pad were measured. 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with 10-8 and 10-6 moL/L aldosterone for 24 and 48 h, adiponectin mRNA expressions and adiponectin concentrations in culture medium were measured. Results Aldosterone induced only a slight increase in the SBP of SD rats[(123±7)mm Hg, P<0.05]. However, aldosterone significantly induced cardiac ultrastructure changes, such as mitochondrial swelling and disordered internal structures. Furthermore, the level of plasma adiponectin decreased 22.8% after aldosterone treatment for 4 weeks ( P<0. 05 ). When 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with 10-8 and 10-6 mol/L aldosterone for 24 h, adiponectin concentrations in culture medium decreased 21.8% and 27. 2%, respectively (P < 0. 05); for 48 h, adiponctin mRNA expressions decreased 22.1% and 37.4%, respectively ( P<0. 05 ). The effect of aldosterone was reversed by spironolactone,which was partly independent of SBP. Conclusions Low level of adiponectin may be involved in cardiac damage induced by aldosterone in SD rats.

Objective To investigate the relationship between Trp64Arg mutation in the β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) gene and the incidence of hypertension in obese subjects. Methods A seven-year follow-up study was conducted in 377 simple obese subjects who had Trp64Arg mutation in the β3-AR gene and some clinical metabolic parameters, such as body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were measured in the year of 2000 and 2007. Results The results of follow-up indicated that the incidence of hypertension in Trp64Arg heterozygote subjects were higher than that in Trp64Trp homozygote subjects (52.7% ,69/131 vs 37.0% ,91/246,P < 0.01), the difference was only seen in male (59.5%, 50/84 vs 45.1%, 64/142, P < 0.05). The incidence of hypertension in both Trp64Trp homozygote and Trp64Arg heterozygote subjects were higher in obese male than those in obese female (P < 0.01 or <0.05). After seven years, the blood pressure increased (9.7 ± 4.3)/(5.4 ± 4.0) mm Hg(1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) in Trp64Trp homozygote,and (12.8 ± 5.2)/ (7.9 ± 4.7) mm Hg in Trp64Trp heterozygote subjects. Compared with that in Trp64Trp homozygote subjects, lipid profile, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR was increased significantly in Trp64Trp heterezygote subjects (P < 0.05). Logistic analysis showed that β3-AR gene mutation, male, central obesity and insulin resistance were associated with the incidence of hypertension in obese subjects. Conclusion The β3-AR gene Trp64Arg mutation is the independent risk factor in the incidence of hypertension in male.

ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors of metabolic syndrome ( MS ) in obese subjects.Methods A seven-year follow-up study was conducted in 413 simple obese subjects and 196 subjects with normal body weight who were recruited from community residents during physical examination in 2000.There was a 7 years follow-up.Anthropometrics,blood pressure,lipid profile,fasting blood glucose,and 2 h blood glucose after glucose loading were measured.Endothelium-dependent dilatation (EDD) test was also performed.Results Among 553 of 609 subjects who were followed up in 2007,there were 381 simple obese subjects ( simple obese group) and 172 normal weight subjects( normal weight group).Seven-year cumulative incidence of MS was 35.17％ in simple obese group and 8.14％ in normal weight group.In simple obese group,subjects with MS showed greater or higher levels of waist circumference( WC ),waist-hip ratio ( WHR ),triglyceride ( TG ),fasting plasma glucose ( FPG ),fasting insulin (FINS),and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) (all P＜0.05 ),and also decreased EDD( P＜0.05 ) as compared with those without MS.WC,WHR,and FINS were higher( all P＜0.05 ) and EDD was lower( P＜0.05 ) in subjects with MS of normal weight group than those without MS.Logistic analysis showed that the male gender,WC,WHR,FPG,HOMA-IR,and EDD were major risk factors of MS.Conclusion Central obesity,insulin resistance,and endothelial dysfunction are important independent risk factors for development of MS.