The article is to discuss the effect of the trained SPs acted by retired nurses in the test of internal medicine inquiry in OSCE for the graduates. The results were evaluated by those samples drawn from medical students who took part in OSCE and the professors. The evaluation of the SPs was objective and accurate, and they acted well. There are remarkable advantages in retired nurses simulating standardized patients, and it deserves extensive application in clinical medical education in our country.

Objective To evaluate the relation of circadian blood pressure rhythm with vascular status in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension.MethodsAnkle-brachial index (ABI),brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured in 74 elderly patients with non-dipper hypertension (non-dipper group)、78 elderly patients with dipper hypertension ( dipper group),and 72 healthy controls ( control group).Results In comparison with the dipper group,baPWV and IMT of the non-dipper group were significantly increased [ baPWV (1801.61± 314.27) vs (1658.67±274.80) (cm/s)],P＜0.01; IMT:(0.96 ±0.22) vs (0.87 +0.19) (mm),(P＜0.05),while ABI of the non-dipper group was decreased (1.03 ±0.17 vs1.12 ±0.18,P＜0.01).Identification rate was significantly different among 3 groups when baPWV ＞1400 cm/s (x2 =12.57,P ＜0.01) or ABI ＜0.9 ( x2 =9.74,P ＜0.01).The detection of carotid plaques was also significantly different ( x2 =16.49,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions These findings suggest that vascular damage could be found in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension,especially in those with non-dipper hypertension.ABI,baPWV and IMT measurement may be helpful for the assessment of vascular status.

Objective To detect the micro flow signals of carotid plaque by ultrasound B-flow imaging (BFI) and elucidate its relationship with acute cerebral infarction.Methods A total of 63 patients with carotid plaques were divided into 2 groups.acute cerebral infarction (ACI,n =48) and control (n =15).BFI was used to detect the micro flow signals of plaques and comparisons were made with the categorizing results of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEU).The data were analyzed between two methods.Results The micro flow signals were detected in 15.7％ (22/140)patients in the ACI group vs.2.3％(1/44) in the control group.There were more signals in hypoechoic plaques.The detection percentage of micro flow in grade Ⅲ was significantly higher than that in grades Ⅰ and Ⅱ with CEU (P =0.005,P =0.027).No significant differences existed between grades Ⅲ and Ⅳ (P =1.000).Conclusion BFI can detect effectively the micro flow signals of carotid plaques and this characteristic is correlated with the symptoms of ACI.

Objective To evaluate periphery artery and renal injury in elderly patients with dipper and non-dipper isolated systolic hypertension(ISH). Methods Totally 187 elderly cases were divided into 51 patients with non-dipper hypertension,70 patients with dipper hypertension aged (72.4±5.6) years and 66 cases with normal blood pressure as control according to results of dynamic blood pressure recorder. Ankle-brachial index (ABI),brachial ankle artery pulse wave velocity (baPWV),retinol-binding protein (RBP) and Cystatin C were assessed. ABI and baPWV were determined by a non-invasive automatic waveform analyzer. Results The baPWV value in nondipper group was higher than dipper group [(1869.3±285.6)cm/s vs.(1703.1±235.2)cm/s,q=4.73,P＜0.01],while the value of ABI in non-dipper group was lower than dipper group (1.0 ±0.2vs.1.1±0.2,q=4.74,P＜0.01).The level of Cystatin C was elevated in non-dipper group versus dipper group [(1.4±0.5) mg/L vs. (1.0±0.5)mg/L,q=6.92,P＜0.01]. There were no differences in RBP concentration among the three groups (F=2.39,P＞0.05).At baPWV＞ 1400cm/s,the level of Cystatin C was increased in 47 cases with non-dipper hypertension as compared with 64 cases with dipper hypertension [(1.4±0.5)mg/L vs.(1.1±0.5)mg/L,q=5.59,P＜0.01].Conclusions The elderly patients with non-dipper hypertension may be more easily suffered from periphery artery and renal injury in comparison with dipper hypertension.

ObjectiveTo explore the appropriate teaching methods for medical international students.MethodsTotally 84 students in grade 2005 and 63 students in grade 2006 took part in clinical skills training in 2010 and 2011.The traditional method was employed in grade 2005 and interactive teaching and imagery training was applied in grade 2006 combined with the traditional methods.ResultsThe scores of clinical skill tests ( posterior thorax puncture test,abdomen puncture test,bone puncture,catheterization test) were significantly higher in grade 2006 than in grade 2005 with statistical differences,P ＜ 0.01.The clinical skill test scores were not statistically different between grade 2005 and 2006 before training,P ＞ 0.05,but the scores were statistically different between grade 2005and 2006 after training,P ＜ 0.05.Conclusion Using polynary teaching methods synthetically is helpful to improve the clinical skill training effect for medical international students.