Objective To explore the diagnostic values of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and p -human chorionic gonadotropin( β -hCG) for early ectopic pregnancy. Methods The serum levels of VEGF and β-hCG were measured in 109 patients with suspected ectopic pregnancy by ELISA and RIA respectively, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curvers were established, the diagnostic values of VEGF and β -hCG for ectopic pregnancy were analyzed. Results One hundred and nine patients with suspected ectopic pregnancy were diagnosed in the end: 62 cases with ectopic pregnancy and 47 cases with intrauterine pregnancy. The levels of VEGF in ectopic pregnancy were significantly higher than those in intrauterine pregnancy (P ＜ 0.05), but the levels of β -hCG were significantly lower than those in intrauterine pregnancy (P ＜ 0.05). The areas under ROC curves of VEGF were 0.87, the areas under ROC curves of β -hCG were 0.71. In VEGF ＞ 140 ng/L for diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, the sensitivity and specificity were 75.8% (47/62) and 80.9% (38/47) respectively. In β-hCG ＜ 1200 U/L for diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, the sensitivity and specificity were 64.5%(40/62) and 61.7%(29/47) respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of combined detection of VEGF and β -hCG were 80.6%(50/62) and 57.4%( 27/47) respectively. Conclusions The diagnostic values of VEGF are better than those of β -hCG. The combined detection of VEGF and β -hCG can increase the rate of early diagnosis and shorten observation time.

The aim of the present paper intends to explore the international experiences of healthcare profes-sional organizations and its enlightenment for China. The functions of health professional organizations in advanced countries include certification and accreditation, self-discipline, academic exchanges, political participation, service for industry, member rights protection and so on. The legal authorization, comprehensive supervision and competitive market mechanisms which make sure these functions perform well are worth learning for China.

This article is based on a questionnaire survey of healthcare professional organizations and interview leaders of them. The results of this investigation show that the number of staff is small, and lack of highly qualified human resources. The organizations rely on donation for income and some of them run at a deficit. The functions such as professional self-discipline are not well performed. The analysis reveals four reasons why functions are not well per-formed:the bureaucratic style of the professional organizations and unclear legal status;the limited authorization from legal and administrative bodies;the defects in the governance system and the lack of capacity. Four aspects of policy recommendations are were proposed: to clearly define the role of the professional organizations and authorization through legal and administrative procedures; to strengthen support of professional organizations through various poli-cies;to improve governance and build comprehensive regulation mechanisms;to enhance the capacity of these organi-zations and so on.

The characteristics of health care require that health care professional organizations play an impor-tant role in health governance. The role of health care professional organizations in China has not been clearly defined and their functions have not been fully developed. This paper explores the nature, and the functions of health care professional associations in China. Based on the analysis of health governance characteristics in China, the role, and functions of the health care professional organizations in China’s health governance were defined and relevant policy recommendations are were proposed.

OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic mechanism of salvianolic acid B (SA-B) in treating hepatic fibrosis. METHODS: Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal control group, untreated group and SA-B-treated group. Rats in the untreated and SA-B-treated groups were injected intraperitoneally with 0.5% dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) for 4 weeks, daily for 3 days each week at a dose of 10 microg/kg, to induce hepatic fibrosis. Then, rats in the SA-B-treated group were given SA-B orally for another 4 weeks. Hydroxyproline (Hyp) contents in liver tissue of the rats in 3 groups were determined with HCl hydrolysis, and collagen type I, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1), transforming growth factor-beta receptor type I (TbetaRI) and transforming growth factor-beta receptor type II (TbetaRII) were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: The Hyp content and the expressions of collagen type I, TGF-beta1, TbetaRI and TbetaRII in the liver tissue of rats in the untreated group increased significantly as compared with those in the normal control group, while those in SA-B-treated group decreased significantly as compared with those in the untreated group. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic mechanism of SA-B in treating hepatic fibrosis may be related to inhibiting the expressions of TGF-beta1 and its receptors.

Objective To test the hypothesis that IL-10 may promoting left ventricular remodeling and cardiac function by modulating extracellular matrix after acute myocardial infarction. Methods Male adult rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n=6) , MI/AAV2 group (n=16) and MI/AAV2-IL-10 group (n=16). Establishing animal modol of experimental myocardial infarction and recombinant adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV)/IL-10 (AAV2-rhIL-10) and AAV2 were injected around the ischemic zone. Echocardiography parameters, hemodynamic parameters, left ventricular mass index (LVMI) , collagen volume fraction (CVF) , perivascu-lar circumferential area (PVCA) , collagen type Ⅰ & Ⅲ volume fraction and mRNA levels of collagen type Ⅰ & Ⅲ , matrix metalloproteinases-2 ( MMP-2 ) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 ( TIMP-1) were compared among the three groups. Results Improved cardiac function was observed in MI/AAV2-IL-10 group shown by echocardiography and hemodynamic examination. Four weeks after myocardial infarction, thickness of different parts of LV was not different in MI/AAV2-IL-10 group and MI/AAV2 group. Nevertheless CVF, PVCA and collagen type Ⅰ volume fraction was significantly descending in remote zone of MI/AAV2-IL-10 group compared with that of MI/ AAV2 group. The mRNA expression of collagen type I and MMP-2 was lower in MI/AAV2-IL-10 group than that in MI/AAV2 group. Conclusion Recombinant IL-10 expression mediated by AAV2-rhIL-10 transfection of rats' myocardium promotes LV remodeling and cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction. The promotion was partially achieved by inhibition myocardium collagen deposition.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the microbial contamination situation in infant formula powder during the processes of production.Methods A total of 880 samples were collected from Gansu Province,which included raw materials,manufacturing facilities,personnel swabs and final infant formula powder.The detection method conducted in this study were complied with the standard of the SN/T 0738-1997 and GB 4789,and the microbial species detected in this study included Enterobacteriaceae,Enterobacter sakazakii,and Bacillus cereus.Results The detection rate of Enterobacteriaceae was 28.41％ (250/880),the detection rates of Enterobacter sakazakii and Bacillus cereus were 0.46％ (4/872) and 16.94％ (31/183) respectively.The prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae (40.00％,40/100) was the highest in raw materials.Four Enterobacter sakazakii strains were isolated from the pretreatment workshop,equipment and environment surface.The prevalence of Bacillus cereus was 22.73％ (10/44) in final product.Conclusion The microbial contamination was existent widely in infant formula powder and the production procession.Rigid laws and managements should be conducted to reduce the microbial contamination in raw materials,production processes and the environment,which might improve the quality of infant formula powder.

Objective To test the hypothesis that IL-10 may promoting left ventricular remodeling and cardiac function by modulating extracellular matrix after acute myocardial infarction. Methods Male adult rats were randomly divided into three groups:control group (n=6),MI/AAV2 group (n=16) and MI/AAV2-IL-10 group (n=16). Establishing animal modol of experimental myocardial infarction and recombinant adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV)/IL-10 (AAV2-rhIL-10) and AAV2 were injected around the ischemic zone. Echocardiography parameters,hemodynamic parameters,left ventricular mass index (LVMI),collagen volume fraction (CVF),perivascular circumferential area (PVCA),collagen type Ⅰ&Ⅲ volume fraction and mRNA levels of collagen type Ⅰ&Ⅲ,matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were compared among the three groups. Results Improved cardiac function was observed in MI/AAV2-IL-10 group shown by echocardiography and hemodynamic examination. Four weeks after myocardial infarction,thickness of different parts of LV was not different in MI/AAV2-IL-10 group and MI/AAV2 group. Nevertheless CVF,PVCA and collagen type Ⅰ volume fraction was significantly descending in remote zone of MI/AAV2-IL-10 group compared with that of MI/AAV2 group. The mRNA expression of collagen type I and MMP-2 was lower in MI/AAV2-IL-10 group than that in MI/AAV2 group. Conclusion Recombinant IL-10 expression mediated by AAV2-rhIL-10 transfection of rats' myocardium promotes LV remodeling and cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction. The promotion was partially achieved by inhibition myocardium collagen deposition.

Objective To evaluate the incidence and mortality of acute kidney injury (AKI) in coronary care unit (CCU),and to identify the risk factors of the incidence of AKI and the mortality of CCU patients.Methods A total of 414 patients in CCU from January 1,2014 to June 1,2015 at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University were enrolled.Based on the KDIGO-AKI criteria,these patients were classified into two groups:NAKI group (patients without AKI) and AKI group.Clinical characteristics and laboratory data of two groups were compared.The risk factors of the incidence of AKI and the mortality of CCU patients was analyzed by logistic regression,and then the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of these risk factors.Results (1) Among 414 patients,136(32.9％) patients fulfilled the criteria for AKI,and 14.0％ patients in AKI stage 1,10.9％ in AKI stage 2 and 8.0％ in AKI stage 3.(2) The total CCU mortality was 15.0％.Mortality of AKI patients in the CCU was 33.3％,higher than 6.1％ in patients without AKI (OR=7.735,95％CI 4.215-14.196,P ＜ 0.001).The mortality worsened with increasing severity of AKI (22.4％ for AKI stage 1 group,37.8％ for AKI stage 2 group,45.4％ for AKI stage 3 group).(3) Anemia (OR=8.274,95％ CI 4.363-15.689),history of chronic illness (OR=2.582,95％ CI 1.400-4.760),APACHE]Ⅱ seores (OR=1.813,95％CI 1.739-1.895),male (OR=3.666,95％CI 1.860-7.226) were the independent risk factors for AKI,while the normal mean arterial pressure (MAP) (OR=0.292,95％CI 0.153-0.556) and normal estimated glonerular filtration rate (eGFR) (OR=0.166,95％CI 0.090-0.306) are the protective factors for AKI (all P ＜ 0.05).(4) AKI was the most powerful independent factor associated with the mortality of CCU patients (OR=7.050,95％ CI 2.970-16.735,P ＜ 0.001).Other independent risk factors for CCU mortality included history of chronic illness,ejection fraction and APACHE Ⅱ ≥ 15 scores (all P ＜ 0.05),while the normal MAP and normal eGFR were the protective factors (all P ＜ 0.05).(5) For predicting AKI,eGFR displayed an excellent areas under the ROC curve (AUC=0.815,P ＜ 0.001),and for CCU mortality,APACHE Ⅱ scores had the highest overall correctness of prediction (AUC=0.757 P ＜ 0.001).Conclusions CCU patients have high morbidity of AKI,which is the most powerful independent factor associated with the increased CCU mortality.The eGFR is the best predictor for AKI,and then through the evaluation of eGFR for CCU patients,we can evaluate high-risk groups,make early interventions and then improve the prognosis of CCU patients.

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of Qushi Huayu Decoction (QHD), a compound of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in prevention and treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). METHODS: Thirty-five Wistar male rats were randomly divided into normal group, untreated group, QHD group and Ganle (diisopropylamine dichloroacetate) group. The rats except those in normal group were subcutaneously injected with carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) for 4 weeks (twice per week) and simultaneously fed with high-fat and low-protein diet for 2 weeks to induce NASH. Then, the rats were administrated with QHD, Ganle, or distilled water for 2 weeks, respectively. After harvest, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) content in serum as well as triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) in liver tissue were evaluated, and relativity analysis among these parameters was performed. Cathepsin B (Ctsb), phospho-inhibitor kappa B (P-IkappaB), TNF-alpha protein expressions in liver tissue were assayed with western-blot. The expression and distribution of ctsb in liver tissue were observed with immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: The contents of TG, FFA and activity of ALT were significantly decreased in QHD group. While in the Ganle group, only the activity of ALT in serum was decreased significantly. Expressions of Ctsb, P-IkappaB and TNF-alpha proteins in liver tissues and serum TNF-alpha level were all enhanced in untreated group which, however, were significantly inhibited in the QHD group. And as expected, there were significant relativities among contents of TG in liver tissues and the content of FFA in liver tissue and activity of ALT in serum, content of TNF-alpha in serum and content of FFA in liver tissue and activity of ALT in serum. CONCLUSION: The inhibiting effects of QHD on fat deposition and inflammation in liver are related with its inhibition on the "FFA-Ctsb-TNF-alpha" pathway of lipo-toxicity.