Background: The widespread use of multiple choice questions (MCQ) in examinations is attributed to its logistical advantage and broad coverage of content within a short duration. The end-of-semester examinations for several modules in the pharmacy programme previously employed a combination of written examination tools including MCQ, short answer questions (SAQ) or essays for assessing learning outcomes in the cognitive domain. Concerns regarding assessment fatigue and subjectivity in marking have led to a review of the assessment formats in the examinations. Various types of MCQ were consequently introduced as the only assessment tool. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of students in the examinations as a result of the change. Methodology: Analyses were carried out on the end-ofsemester examination results of two cohorts of students for each module, one based on a combination of MCQ, SAQ or essay and the other based on MCQ alone. The class means were compared, and t-test was used to determine the difference between the performances. Results: Although the difference in the mean scores of the two groups is statistically significant in 13 of the 20 modules, the difference is less than 5% in 10 modules. Conclusion: The findings provide evidence that wellconstructed MCQ can effectively assess cognitive skills.

Objective To choose proper proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(~1XH-MRS) parameters to fit for practical femoral marrow cavity and to produce short-timed,well-repeated and excellent ~1H-MRS images.Methods The tentative study of ~1H-MRS on the normal femoral bone marrow in 26 volunteers was performed with a 1.5 T MR after the informed consent.The single-voxel spectroscopy and stimulated echo acquisition mode were used for ~1H-MRS collection.~1H-MRS parameters for 12 volunteers were 128 acquisitions,1 cm?1 cm?1 cm volume of interest(VOI)size and repeatedly 2—3 times within the same location.~1H-MRS parameters for another:14 volunteers were different numbers of acquisition (128 and 256 times,respectively)and different VOI sizes(2 cm?2 cm?2 cm and 1 cm?1 cm?1 cm, respectively).Results For ~1H-MRS with 1 cm?1 cm?1 cm size of VOI and 128 times of acquisition with the full width haft max of water≤8—12 Hz,the base-line was steady and the signal-noise ratio was high up to 11.31.~1H-MRS was different in the different femoral locations showing the maximum peak sites at near 0.90 ppm(?10~(-6))or 1.65 ppm,but~1H-MRS within the same location was always same or similar with different VOI sizes(1 cm?1 cm?1 cm or 2 cm?2 cm?2 cm)or different numbers of acquisition(128 or 256 times).~1H-MRS acquisition time was not related with the size of VOI but with the numbers of acquisition.128 and 256 times of acquisition cost 199 s and 391 s,respectively.Conclusion With the technique of small size of VOI(1 cm?1 cm?1 cm)and decreased numbers of acquisition(128 times),it is propable to get well-repeated and excellent ~1H-MRS within less time.It is also more practical for clinics to achieve ~1H-MRS of the femoral marrow with the proper technique.

BACKGROUNDEdaravone had been validated to effectively protect against ischemic injuries. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of edaravone by observing the effects on anti-apoptosis, regulation of Bcl-2/Bax protein expression and recovering from damage to mitochondria after OGD (oxygen-glucose deprivation)-reperfusion.

METHODSViability of PC12 cells which were injured at different time of OGD injury, was quantified by measuring MTT (2-(4,5-dimethylthia-zol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) staining. In addition, PC12 cells' viability was also quantified after their preincubation in different concentration of edaravone for 30 min followed by (OGD). Furthermore, apoptotic population of PC12 cells that reinsulted from OGD-reperfusion with or without preincubation with edaravone was determined by flow cytometer analysis, electron microscope and Hoechst/PI staining. Finally, change of Bcl-2/Bax protein expression was detected by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) The viability of PC12 cells decreased with time (1 - 12 h) after OGD. We regarded the model of OGD 2 h, then replacing DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium) for another 24 h as an OGD-reperfusion in this research. Furthermore, most PC12 cells were in the state of apoptosis after OGD-reperfusion. (2) The viability of PC12 cells preincubated with edaravone at high concentrations (1, 0.1, 0.01 micromol/L) increased significantly with edaravone protecting PC12 cells from apoptosis after OGD-reperfusion injury. (3) Furthermore, edaravone attenuates the damage of OGD-reperfusion on mitochondria and regulated Bcl-2/Bax protein imbalance expression after OGD-reperfusion.

CONCLUSIONNeuroprotective effects of edaravone on ischemic or other brain injuries may be partly mediated through inhibition of Bcl-2/Bax apoptotic pathways by recovering from the damage of mitochondria.

Animals ; Antipyrine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Ischemia ; prevention & control ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Rats ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; analysis

OBJECTIVE: To develop a novel technique of optical recording and its validation for assessment of the neuroprotective effect of nimodipine, a L-type calcium channel blocker. METHODS: In vitro ischemia was induced by oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD), the light transmittance (LT) of rat hippocampal slices undergoing OGD and reperfusion was quantitated using a simple apparatus relying on basic principles of light transmittance and a computerised image analysis system. RESULTS: OGD was associated with increased LT in the stratum radiatum of CA1 area and the dentate gyrus in hippocampal slices. Peak LT occurred (7.59 +/-1.42) min after OGD, followed by a marked decrease in LT (n=15 slices). Nimodipine administration (0.5 &mgr;mol/L, n=10 slices, 5 &mgr;mol/L, n=9 slices) appeared to protect the tissue from OGD damage by inhibiting elevation of LT, However, 50 &mgr;mol/L nimodipine resulted in increased LT (25.83 +/-6.32). min after administration (n=11 slices). CONCLUSION: LT signal measurement is a non-invasive, reliable method for determination of neuronal damage in ischemic rat brain slices Nimodipine is demonstrated opposite neuroprotective effects depending on its dose.

The effect of water extracts of Euphorbia hirta on the histological features and expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in the rat articular cartilage was investigated. Arthritis was induced in rats using Freund's Complete Adjuvant containing heat-killed M. tuberculosis, and treated with water extracts of E. hirta. Paraffin tissue sections of the arthritic joints were evaluated. The extent of cartilage degeneration was found to be greatest in rats treated with the highest dosage of E. hirta, followed by rats in the untreated group. Rats treated with the intermediary and low dosages of Euphorbia hirta showed improved histology. MMP-13 levels were found to be decreased with decreasing dosages of E. hirta. TIMP-1 levels were found to increase with decreasing dosages of E. hirta. MMP-3 levels fluctuated without any appreciable pattern. Low dosages of E. hirta seem to be beneficial in reducing cartilage degeneration in cases of arthritis.
Upper case ee ; Rattus norvegicus ; Euphorbia ; Water ; Degeneration, NOS

Because of the obvious protective effect on brain,spinal cord,heart and other organs,therapeutic hypothermia is used widely in ischemic or traumatic damage.However,it can induce a variety of complications in the course of treatment.The aim of this article is to review the pathogenesis,clinical features,diagnosis,prevention and treatment,and prognosis of infectious complications induced by therapeutic hypothermia.

AIMTo determine the effect of histamine on ischemia-induced cellular edema and viability reduction in rat hippocampal slices, and the involved subtypes of histamine receptor in this effect.

METHODSIn vitro ischemic injury of hippocampal slices was induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). The slice injury was determined by real-timely measuring the changes of light transmittance (LT) for the cellular edema in CA1 region of the hippocampal slice, and by detecting the product of 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), formazan, for the slice viability. The effect of histamine at various concentrations on the slice injury was observed, and the blockage by antagonists of histamine receptors was also investigated.

RESULTSHistamine (0.01-10 micromol x L(-1)) inhibited the peak value of LT during OGD in hippocampal slices and improved the reduced viability after OGD. Diphenhydramine (0.1-10 micromol x L(-1)), an H1 receptor antagonist, did not affect the effect of histamine, while cimetidine (0.1-10 micromol x L(-1)), an H2 receptor antagonist, partly abolished the protective effect of histamine.

CONCLUSIONHistamine protects hippocampal slices against ischemia-induced cellular edema and viability reduction; this effect might be mediated via, at least partly, H2 receptor.

Animals ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cimetidine ; pharmacology ; Diphenhydramine ; pharmacology ; Formazans ; metabolism ; Glucose ; deficiency ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Histamine ; pharmacology ; Histamine H1 Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Histamine H2 Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo examine the effects of high and low concentrations of transforming growth factor (TGF) β(1) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on the extracelluar matrix synthesis of the self-assembled constructs of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc.

METHODSThe experimental groups of self-assembled constructs were exposed to IGF-I (10, 100 µg/L) and TGF-β(1) (5, 50 µg/L), the control groups were not added with any growth factors. All groups were examined at 3 and 6 weeks for gross morphological, histological, and biochemical changes. Safranin-O/fast green staining was used to examine glycosaminoglycan (GAG) distribution, picrosirius red and immunohistochemical staining to observe type I collagen distribution. Type I collagen contents were tested by ELISA assay kit, GAG contents were measured by Blyscan GAG assay kit, and the cell numbers were quantified with a Picogreen reagent kit.

RESULTSThe growth factor groups all upregulated the matrix synthesis of the self-assembled constructs compared with control groups. TGF-β(1) (5 µg/L) and IGF-I (10 µg/L) were the two most potent concentration in increasing type I collagen and GAG synthesis and cells proliferation. IGF-I group (10 µg/L) produced nearly 2 times (109.16 ± 5.12 µg) as much type I collagen as the control group (69.13 ± 5.94 µg) at 3 weeks. The matrix contents and the number of the proliferated cells in control group and all GF groups at 6 weeks were more than those at 3 weeks.

CONCLUSIONSIGF-I (10 µg/L) is the most beneficial growth factor and can be applied in tissue-engineering stratigies of the temporomandibular joint disc. At the same time, the exposure time of growth factors is another key factor that affects matrix synthesis of TMJ disc constructs.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; biosynthesis ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Glycosaminoglycans ; biosynthesis ; Goats ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; pharmacology ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc ; cytology ; metabolism ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Elasticity ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Humans ; Liver ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo develop oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD)-and NMDA-induced neurotoxicity models in rat primary neurons and hippocampal slices, and to determine the protective effect of minocycline.

METHODSThe injuries of primary neurons were induced by OGD or NMDA (50micromol/L). Morphological changes of neurons were observed, and neuron viability was evaluated by MTT assay. The changes of light transmittance (LT) were induced by OGD or NMDA in rat hippocampal slices. The effects of minocycline and MK-801, an NMDA receptor antagonist, were observed in the models of OGD-or NMDA-induced injuries.

RESULTMinocycline concentration dependently inhibited OGD induced decrease of neuron viability and ameliorated neuron morphological changes at 1 and 10 micromol/L. It also inhibited NMDA insult at 10 and 100 micromol/L. MK-801 inhibited both injuries at 1 micromol/L. However, minocycline at 1 or 10 micromol/L did not inhibit the augment of LT in hippocampal slices induced by OGD or NMDA, while MK-801 inhibited both OGD-and NMDA-induced LT augments.

CONCLUSIONMinocycline protects neurons from OGD insult, which may inhibit NMDA receptor-mediated neurotoxicity through an indirect pathway, but has no effect on OGD-or NMDA-induced immediate injury in hippocampal slices.

Animals ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; Male ; Minocycline ; pharmacology ; N-Methylaspartate ; toxicity ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley