Antitubercular Agents ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant ; diagnosis ; microbiology

The introduction of problem-based learning techniques into the teaching of anatomy has been subject to great contro- versies.This paper debates the rationale behind this concept using the example of the curriculum of Harvard Medical School.The anatomy curriculum is covered during the eight first weeks of the medical studies,and is an original combination of discussions of clinical cases in small groups,and work in gross anatomy,histology and radiology laboratories.The lectures are reduced to the minimum and emphasize general concepts.

Objective To examine the effect of Pu-Erh tea extract(PTE) on genes expression of lipogenesis in white adipose tissue of rats fed high fat diet.Method Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups(n=10):the control group(basal diet);the high fat group(high fat diet);the PTE group(high fat diet + Pu-Erh tea extract).Body weight and adipose tissue were measured.Expression of genes regulating lipid metabolism was assessed in adipose tissue.Results PTE supplementation prevented diet-induced increases in body weight and adipose tissue.Diacylglycerol acyltransferase-1(DGAT1),stearoyl-CoA desalurase-1(SCD1) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c(SREBP-1c) mRNA levels were markedly decreased in adipose tissue of rats fed PTE.Conclusion This study shows for the first time that Pu-Erh tea extract prevents diet-induced obesity,and this effect is partly mediated via a direct influence on adipose tissue.

Objective To discuss the significance of serum IgE before and after inhale glucocorticoid treat-ment of children's asthma. Methods 520 children with asthma were seleceted from the outpatient. Different type of fluticasone propionate were given to different age groups: Aerosol type by a spacer in less than 5 years old,and in-halant (Seretide) 5 years and the above. The dosage was between 200 μg/day to 375 μg/day. IgE was tested before and 3 months after the treatment. Results Serum IgE decreased significantly in 3 months treatment [ from (496.12±24.75) kU/L to (390.71±18.71) kU/L] (t=7.337,P<0.01). The change of IgE was related to clinical effect and age. The level increased in those less than 3 years [(307.05±34.71)kU/L vs (483.09±41.78) kU/L] (t=2.963,P=0.004),but decreased between 4 to 5 years old group [(543.46±51.03) kU/L vs (316.93±29.30) kU/L] (t=3.368,P=0.000) ,and decreased between 6 to 14 years old group[ (586.30±37.19)kU/L vs (387.61±27.60) kU/L] (t=4.827,P=0.000). In fluticasone group IgE level changed from (468.91±32.81) kU/L to (359.03±22.79) kU/L after treatment (t=5.988,P<0.01),which decreased from (586.30±37.19) kU/L to (387.6±27.60) kU/L in Salmeterol group (t=4.827,P<0.01). In 260 cases of IgE below 300 kU/L 109 cases (41.92%,109/260) increased while in 260 cases of IgE above 300 kU/L,total IgE lev-el increased in 45 cases (16.15% ,45/260) after treatment,with statistical significance(χ<'2>=37.789,P=0.000). Conclusion Inhale glucocorticoid can make the level of IgE decreased.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of BVT. 2733 on insulin resistance, by using diet-induced obese (DIO) mice model. Methods After having been balanced for 3 days, the C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal diet group and a high-fat diet (HFD) group. After 20 weeks, the obese mice were further randomly divided into an obese control group, a BVT. 2733 group and a pioglltazone (PGZ) group and they were orally administered with placebo, BVT. 2733 and PGZ separately for two weeks.Adiponectin and leptin mRNA expression levels from adipose tissue were analyzed with real-time quantitative PCR. The levels of plasma glucose, serum insulin and adiponectin were measured with biochemical technology, radioimmunoassay and ELISA. Adipocyte sizes were observed with immunohistocbemistry.Results The body weight, plasma glucose and serum insulin levels raised(P<0.05)in the HFD group and the adipocyte sizes were bigger. Serum insulin levels significantly reduced (P<0.05) and adipocyte sizes reduced, while plasma adiponectin level raised (P<0.01)in the two treatment groups as compared with those in obese controls. Both the mRNA expressions of adiponectin and leptin upregulated(P<0.05)in the PGZ group, but their expressions in the BVT. 2733 group did not alter significantly. The body weight of the mice reduced significantly in the BVT. 2733 group. Conclusion BVT. 2733 can reduce body weight significantly and improve insulin resistance, but cannot influence the expression of adipocytokines.

To study the impact of five different origin processing methods, namely natural drying, drying in baking shop, drying by microwave heating, drying in drum and drying with sulphur fumigation, on the quality of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos from Donghai cultivation base in Jiangsu Province, with the contents of chlorogenic acid and galuteolin and the similarity in HPLC fingerprints as the evaluation indicators. The results showed that different origin processing methods had significant impact on the content of chlorogenic acid and the similarity in HPLC fingerprints, but with no significant difference on the content of galuteolin. By means of drying by microwave heating and drying in drum, the samples showed higher contents of chlorogenic acid, respectively 3.67% and 3.39%. The similarities of HPLC fingerprints were 0.815 and 0.793, respectively. By means of the drying in baking shop and the drying with sulphur fumigation, the contents of chlorogenic acid in the samples were 2. 87% and 2. 53% , respectively. The similarities of HPLC fingerprints were 0.964 and 0.765, respectively. The lowest content of chlorogenic acid in naturally dried samples was 1.92%. The similarity of HPLC fingerprints was 0.940. According to the findings as well as the internal control standards for Lonicerae Japonicae Flos herbs of Jiangsu Kanion Pharmaceutical Co. , Ltd. , the optimum processing method for Lonicerae Japonicae Flos from Donghai cultivation base was the drying in baking shop. This study provided a theoretical basis for determining the processing method for Lonicerae Japonicae Flos from Donghai cultivation base of Jiangsu Province.
China ; Desiccation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of surface roughness and titanium dioxide (TiO2) layers on commercially pure titanium (cp-Ti) substrates on attachment of osteoblasts in vitro.

METHODS250 pure titanium slices were divided into five groups. Osteoblasts were cultured on five cp-Ti substrates of ground, which blasted with 108-130 microm (S1), 216-301 microm (S2), 356-411 microm (S3) TiO2 particles and titanium-sprayed plasma (TPS) surfaces, surfaces prepared by hand grinding with SiC paper to 600 grits served as control (S0). Surface average roughness and the TiO2 film structure was evaluated. For morphology and attachment measurement, osteoblasts were cultured for 1, 4, 12 and 24 h, evaluated by scanning electronic microscope (SEM) observation and MTr assay.

RESULTSOsteoblasts spread well on the titanium surfaces. Further more, osteoblasts spread more well on S3 surfaces. After 1 and 4 h culture, the number of cells on S3 surfaces was the highest (P < 0.05). The number of cells on S3 surfaces was the same (P > 0.05) as TPS surfaces and higher than other groups (P < 0.05) after 12 and 24 h. The number of cells of all experimental groups were higher than S0 surfaces after 4, 12 and 24 h (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIt was concluded that the coarse TiO2 particles blasted surface would optimize initial osteoblast responses.

Cell Differentiation ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Osteoblasts ; Surface Properties ; Titanium

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism and efficacy of tetramethylpyrazine-eluting stents (TES) on inhibiting neointima formation in porcine coronary arteries.

METHODSTES was prepared by tetramethylpyrazine spray-coated in bare metal stents (BMS). Pigs were implanted with TES or BMS (n = 7 each), respectively. Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) were performed before, immediately after stenting and at 28 days after stenting. Coronary arteries segments (5 cm) before and post stenting area (5 cm) as well as at stenting location were harvested at 28 days post stenting for histopathological examinations (inflammation, vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and apoptosis).

RESULTSFollow up QCA at 28 days showed that percentage diameter stenosis were significantly lower in the TES group than that in the BMS group [(10.0 +/- 2.1)% vs (60.2 +/- 23.5)%, P = 0.01]. The lumen area determined by IVUS was similar between the two groups and there was no in-stent thrombosis in TES or BMS treated animals. Internal elastic lamina area was significantly larger while the neointimal area [(1.51 +/- 0.45) mm(2) vs (4.60 +/- 1.39) mm(2), P = 0.04] was significantly smaller in the TES group than that in the BMS group. Histopathological assessments showed fewer inflammatory cells in the stented-coronary artery walls than those at the border zones of stenting in both groups. The number of proliferating cells were significantly decreased while apoptotic cells were significantly increased in the TES group compared with the BMS group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTES could effectively reduce in-stent restenosis in this porcine model by attenuating vascular smooth muscle proliferation and enhancing vascular smooth muscle apoptosis post stenting.

Animals ; Coronary Restenosis ; prevention & control ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Pyrazines ; administration & dosage ; Swine ; Tunica Intima ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the Geo-authentic and Geologic Background System (GBS) and physicochemical properties of cultivated soil in the Flos Lonicerae.

METHODThe analysis on the physicochemical properties of cultivated soil, the geologic background system in 5 producing areas of Flos Lonicerae was compared.

RESULTThe distribution of genuine Flos Lonicerae was restricted by GBS, which was mainly restricted in the temperate continental monsoon semi-arid climate zone between north latitude 34-36 degrees and east longitude 113-118 degrees.

CONCLUSIONThe most suitable soil for the genuine Flos Lonicerae is the neutral or weak alkali sandy loamy soil with higher ion exchanging capacity, and the soils from those producing areas are determined by soil-forming parent materials.

China ; Ecosystem ; Flowers ; growth & development ; Geologic Sediments ; Lonicera ; growth & development ; Pharmacognosy ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Soil ; analysis

A novel white-rot fungus AH28-2,which was isolated from 224 fungi samples,ability to produce effectively laccase by induction.Several factors influencing laccase production were investigated.The optimum conditions were as follows:the 300mL Erlenmeyer flask containing 150mL of liquid medium was inoculated with 7.5mL of mycelial fragments and the medium was supplied with lignin at a concentration of 0.1%(initial pH8.5).The cultures was incubated at 28℃ on rotary shaker(150r/min) for 4～5 days.The maximum enzyme activity was 20184IU/L.