Matrix metalloproteases(MMPs)and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteases(TIMPs) have a co-regulation of changes of the extraeellular matrix(ECM).MMPs can control the proteases which are related to the process of tumor development.Moreover,MMPs,produced by host cells including inflammatory ceUs,endothelial cells,pericytes and fibroblasts have a positive or negative correlation with tumor formation.

Objective To observe the effect of high glucose on the expression of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) in cultured retinal Müller glia cells.Methods The retinal tissue of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats was collected,and Müller cells were isolated and cultured.The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and glutamine synthetase (GS) of Müller cells were identified by streptavidin-biotinperoxidase complex.Cultured rat Müller cells were divided into control group (5.5 mmol/L glucose),group A (20 mmol/L glucose),group B (30 mmol/L glucose) and group C (40 mmol/L glucose).ATF4 protein expressions in Müller cells of four groups were measured by Western blot four days after cultured.Results GFAP and GS expressed in more than 95％ of Müller cells.Over 95％ of Müller cells of group A,B and C were positive for GFAP and GS.Western blots indicated that ATF4 protein in group A,B and C increased obviously compared with the control group (q=0.293,0.754,0.484; P＜0.05).Conclusion High glucose can increase the expression of ATF4 protein and cause endoplasmic reticulum stress in retinal Müller glia cells in vitro.

The incidence of severe acute pancreatitis in children is lower.But it has abrupt onset and atypical symptoms.The fatality rate is relatively high.This paper will review the progress on the diagnosis and treatment of severe acute pancreatitis.

The early diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma is difficult, and the prognosis is poor. The molecular mechanisms underlying the development, growth and metastatic spread of biliary tract cancers are still unclear. The increase in worldwide incidence and mortality of cholangiocarcinoma justifies the impellent need to clarify the intracellular mechanisms triggering the malignant transformation of the biliary epithelium and growth of biliary malignancies. A more complete characterization of the molecular pathology of bile duct cancers could lead to the identification of valid targets for diagnosis and therapy of these devastating malignancies. This review describes the scientific progress made over the past years with regard to the understanding of the molecular processes of cholangiocarcinogenesis.

About half of the world population and more than 90% of rural households in the developing countries still use unprocessed biomass fuels (wood, dung and crop residues) as the fuels. These substances, burning in the open fire or in the simple stoves, can cause indoor air pollution and the pollutants exposure in women and children is more serious. Biomass smoke contains lots of toxic and harmful substances which may impact the health of human. This article presented a recent research progress in the indoor air pollution and health effects caused by combustion of biomass fuels in China and in the world.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the endothelial cell-specific mitogen, facili-tates endothelial cell proliferation, increases vascular permeability and accelerates the formation of new blood vessels role. Angiogenesis is an important physiological and pathological significance of the process. In the human wound healing, inflammation, organ regeneration and tumor growth and metastasis, vascular prolifer-ative diseases, angiogenesis is an important role. Therapeutic angiogenesis is the use of inducible factor or vascular endothelial progenitor ceils, simulates in vivo angiogenesis mechanism, promotes angiogenesis and improves the collateral circulation. In this paper, VEGF and therapeutic ansiogenesis research progress were reviewed.

Objective To evaluate two regimes of transient intensive insulin therapy in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients with severe hyperglycemia.Methods Sixty-eight newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients with fasting plasma glucose(FPG)≥10.0 mmol/L and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)≥8.0％were randomized to either cantinuous subcutaneous insulin infusion(CSII)group or multiple daily injection(MDI)group.Glycemic control,daily dose of insulin,body mass index(BMI),the mean area under the insulin curve(AUC),β-cell function(HOMA-β)and insulin resistence(HOMA-IR) were compared before and after treatment.Results There were no significant differences between two groups in days reaching glycemic control and BMI.The maximal insulin dose for glycemic control in CSII group was(0.53±0.06)U·kg-1·d-1 and that in MDI group was(0.71±0.04)U·kg-1·d-1(t= 11.100,P＜0.01).After CSII and MDI treatment,HOMA-β and the mean AUC of insulin were significantly increased(P＜0.01),but there was no significant difference between two groups(P＞0.05).No significant changes in HOMA-IR were observed before and after treatment or between two groups.There were no severe hypoglycemic episodes in two groups and mild hypoglycemic episodes were 0.34％(13/3806)in CSII group and 1.09％(44/4045)in MDI group.Conclusions The excellent glycemic control can be reached by short.terra CSII and MDI treatment in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients with severe hyperglycemia.Lower insulin dose and less mild hypoglycemic episodes seem to be the advantage of CSII regime than MDI regime.β-cell function can be dramatically improved in both therapy regimes.

Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia is a rare disease, which is characterized by the obstruction of lymphatic return, dilated lymphatics and distorted structure of villi. Lymph fluid leaks into the small bowel lumen as a result of the obstruction of lymphatics and elevated pressure of lymphatics, and leads to malabsorption and loss of proteins. The causes and pathogenesis of PIL are not clear, hut the abnormal immunologic mechanism has got people's attention. Recently, the endoscopic technique has been improved, and the diagnosis rate of PIL has increased obviously. Antisecosis is the basic and effective treatment, especially for children.

AIM:To investigate the validity of Rorschach inkblot method (RIM) in personality research by calculating the correlation of RIM with 16 personality factor questionnaire (16 PF).METHODS: Totally 70 undergraduates participated in the examination with RIM and 16 PF, then the correlations of all the variables of two measuring techniques were calculated. Standard score of comprehensive system was used in RIM.RESULTS: Some important Rorschach variables were correlated significantly with 16PF factors, and the correlations are consistent with their meaning. Some variables correlated with 16PF factors but were irrelevant in meaning.CONCLUSION: The results support the validity of RIM in personality study, and they also demonstrate that comprehensive system cannot well annotate RIM, but the meaning of some variables should be further researched.

BACKGROUND: Item response theory (IRT) is widely used in the westem world, but its use for non-cognitive measurement has been very limited in China. It is necessary to explore whether IRT is applicable in non-cognitive settings and find the optimal model.OBJECTIVE: To find the optimal IRT model for self-report questionnaire analysis with the instance of emotional competence scale (ECS) and compare the effectiveness of different models in light of model data fitting and the volume of information provision.DESIGN: A comparative study of different psychometric models tested with the same data set.SETTING: Shandong Laiwu Vocational and Technical College; Department of Psychology, Liaoning Normal University.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 617 college students of Shandong Normal University (311 males and 306 females)and 564 senior high school students of the 17 Laiwu High School (283 males and 281females) participated in the study during May 2004.METHODS: Emotional competence scale (ECS) was adopted for psychometric measurement for 5-point Likert-type items. The scale was divided into 9 subscales, namely impulse control, empathy, persistency, interpersonal intimacy, social skills, emotional regulation, emotional stability, sense of responsibility, and self-confidence. One-parameter, two-parameter and three-parameter logistic model and grade response model were used for analysis of the 9 subscales, followed by goodness of fit test (analogous to Chi-square test) and comparison of the measurement precision (reliability)of the three models.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Log-likelihood ratio, average χ2 statistics and average volume of information when one-parameter, two-parameter and three-parameter Logistic model.RESULTS: Totally 1 220 questionnaires were handed out and 1 181 with valid answers were obtained. Comparison of the 3 logistic model showed that the two-parameter logistic model had the least log-likelihood with the least items whose mean square residual error were greater than 2, and the volume of test information was greater than that provided by one-parameter model and no less than the three-parameter model. Therefore, the two-parameter logistic model was the best for 2-point scoring model. But the measurement precision of two-parameter Logistic model was lower than that of multi-grade response model.CONCLUSION: When 2-point items are adopted in self-report questionnaire, 2-parameter logistic model can be applied but not 1- or 3-parameter Logistic models. But when the questionnaire uses items that have more than 2 response grades, the measurement precision can be better than that of 2-point data. Merge of the options for the items may result in lowered measurement precision.