Objective To investigate the effect of total flavonoids of Herba Epimedii (HEF) on the apoptosis of osteoblasts in the ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Methods Fifty-four female rats were allocated into 6 groups (9 rats in each group) ; OVX group, sham-operated group, 3 groups with OVX followed by three different dosages of HEF(40,80 and 160 mg· kg-1·d-1) and another group by nilestriol (0.1 mg· kg-1·d-1) for 12 weeks respectively. Bone mineral density (BMD) of whole body of rats was determined by DEXA. The serum level of estradiol was measured by radioimmunologic assay. Apoptotic ceils were examined using terminal dexynudeotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and observed by electron microscope. The protein expressions of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 ,fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and Fas were tested withimmunohistochemical methods. Results Compared with the OVX group,BMD in the HEF treated (80 and 160 mg ·kg-1·d-1) groups were increased (P < 0.01), but the serum level of estradiol was not increased (P >0.05). Positive expression rate of apoptotie osteoblasts and osteocytes in the OVX group was significantly higher than that in sham-operated group after 12 weeks (P < 0. 01), and were decreased after HEF treatment (P < 0.01).Compared with the OVX group, Fas expression in the HEF treated groups was significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and expressions of TGF-β1 and FGF-2 were significantly increased, especially in 80 and 160 mg·kg-1·d-1 HEF groups (P < 0.01). Conclusion HEF has antiosteoporotic effect in ovariectomized rats. HEF can inhibit apoptosis of osteoblasts and osteocytes, which may thus contribute to its antiosteoporotic effect.

Gene expressions of interleukin-6 receptor subunit gp130 and gp80 were investigated by competitive RT-PCR in the rat model of osteoporosis. A significant increase in expressions of gp130 and gp80 was found in bone marrow of osteoporotic rat, this change may be a possible mechanism in osteoporosis due to loss of estrogen.

The pilot work urban workers medical network settlement of Anhui province has launched in full scale,effectively facilitating the population seeking medical service elsewhere.In this regard,the medical settlement of a pilot hospital is cited as an example to introduce the networked medical settlement in remote places,summarizing problems encountered,and coming up with proposals accordingly.

Objective To investigate the effects of icariin on the expressions of osteoprotegerin(OPG)and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand(RANKL)mRNA in rat osteoblasts cultured in vitro.Methods Calvarial osteoblasts were obtained from newborn SD rats aged＜24 h by trypsin-collagenase digestion method. After treatment with different concentrations of icariin(10~(-10)-10~(-4) mol/L)for 48 h,total RNA was isolated from osteoblasts.Expressions of OPG and RANKL mRNA were detected by semiquantitative RT-PCR.Results Icariin remarkably increased OPG mRNA levels and decreased RANKL mRNA levels in calvarial osteoblasts in a dose- dependent fasion with a maximum effect at a concentration of 10~(-7)mol/L(P＜0.05).Osteoblasts pre-treated with icariin prevented the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone on OPG mRNA(0.570?0.093 vs 1.083?0.081)and the stimulative effect on RANKL mRNA(1.079?0.050 vs 0.718?0.082)(both P＜0.05).Conclusion Icariin upregulates OPG expression and downregulates RANKL expression in osteoblasts,which may explain the beneficial role of icariin in preventing and treating osteoporosis.

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This paper was aimed to investigate the effects of icariin on the expression of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase(MAPK)protein in rat osteoblasts cultured in vitro, to elucidate the signal transduction of icariin in preventing and treating osteoporosis. The results showed that p38MAPK could be activated by icariin within 5min, and Cbfal could also be upregulated, and SB203580, an inhibitor of p38MAPK pathway, could partly inhibit Cbfal upregulation by icariin.

Objectives To evaluate mini/VITAL and BacT/Alert, two fully automated blood culture systems. Methods Standard mini/VITAL AER and ANA bottles (bioM′erieux, Marcy 1′Etoile, France) and BacT/Alert FAN aerobic and FAN anerobic bottles (organon Netherlands) were used. The bottles were analysed over a period of 7 days. A total of 600 samples of blood, 108 samples of body fluid, and 100 strains of imitation were detected by mini/VITAL and BacT/Alert parallelly. The bottles of flagged positive were smeared and Gram stained before being examined under a microscope. Subcultures were performed in parallel on fresh blood agar and chocolate agar incubated in microaerophilic Conditions with 5% CO 2. All the bottles flagged negative were examined in the same conditions as the positive bottles. Results mini/VITAL: The positive rate for aerobic and anaerobic blood cultures was 10% and 5% respectively, for aerobic body fluid culture was 26 9%. No contaminants were detected. 0.5% false positive and 0.8% false negative were detected. 90% of positive sample were detected in 48 h. The shortest time of report of positive bottles was 1.5 h for blood culture. BacT/Alert: The rate of positive of aerobic and anaerobic blood culture was 9.8% and 5% respectively. The positive rate of body fluid culturs was 26.9%. There were used 3 bottles contaminated. The false positive and false negative rate were 0.5% and 0 98% respective. 95.5% of positive bottles were detected in 48 h. The shortest time of flagged positive was 2.5 h. Conclusion mini/VITAL and BacT/Alert were accurate automated blood culture systems for the detection of bacteremia. There was no significant difference on the speed of detection between BacT/Alert FAN bottles and mini/VITAL standard bottles.

Objective　To select suitable media for increasing isolation rate of haemophilus.Methods　Haemophilus was inoculated on seven types of media.The average growth index(GI) of Haemophilus was calculated and Haemophilus was isolated from 325 specimens of the respiratory tract and its isolation rate was compared with that media of brchoc and brchoc-V agare.Results　The GI of media with 2% fresh yeast infusion and 50% of meat infusion was higher than that of those with no yeast and meat infusion.The GI of Haemophilus on BRchoc was higher than that of the BSchoc(P<0.001).The isolation rate of Haemophilus from 325 respiratory tract specimens on BRchoc-V was 77.2%,which was significantly higher than that on the medium BRchoc (32.0%).Conclusions　BRchoc-V is a better medium for isolation of Haemophilus.This medium is effective to improve the isolation rate of Haemophilus.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the occupational hazard situation among medical staff and conduct effective measure and enhance the medical care.METHODS A questionnaire survey on occupational hazard had been completed among the hospitals in Fengtai District in Beijing in three years.RESULTS The rate of sharp damage of medical staff was 72.13%,from them the nurses were with highest rate(81.49%).The higher rate of sharp damage was in the operating theater(88.32%)and the surgical department(82.49%).CONCLUSIONS To assure the medical safety,we should pay more attention to the occupational hazard management.