Objective Mutated inbred animal model is introduced to the practical course of genetic diagnosis in the hope that medical students are able to apply what they have learned to clinical cases, based on a deep understanding of principle and technology on gene mutation detection. Methods We integrated DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction, agarose gel electrophoresis, and gel imaging analysis into a comprehensive experiment and arranged 4-year-programme undergraduates majoring in preclinical medical sciences to conduct it with the purpose of investigating the internal relations between phenotype and genotype in a hairless Uncv mouse model. Subsequently, the questionnaire aimed at evaluating learning effect on the part of students was handed out and their feedbacks were analyzed. Results More than 90% of respondents are satisfied with the general learning effect. Especially, 98. 7% of students support the enhancing effect of the new teaching mode on their research skills and 96% consider the practical course helpful to their problem-solving ability. Conclusions The introduction of mutated inbred animal model to the practical system of molecular diagnostics proves beneficial to boost students' learning effect and scientific research quality. Our practice also provokes thoughts on the further utilization of animal models in teaching system of medical sciences.

The latest research progress on quantitative determination methods of main active components-lignans from Schisandra chinensis and its preparations has been summarized, such as spectrophotometry, thin-layer chromatography scanning, high performance liquid chromatograpy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and capillary electrochromatography. The characteristics and application areas of every analytical method have also been stated. It offers reference on quality control of crude drug and its preparations of S. chinensis.
Capsules ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Lignans ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Schisandra ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the restoration of erectile function by reconstructing cavernous nerves (CN) with small intestinal submucosa (SIS) grafts.

METHODSWe prepared SIS grafts, established rat models and divided the models into a CN ablation, a sham-operation and an SIS graft group. The CNs at both sides were severed with 1 cm ablated in the first group, and 0.5 cm removed in the third, followed by reconstruction with the SIS grafts. Three months after surgery, the apomorphine test was performed to evaluate the erectile function, and then all the rats were sacrificed to detect the expression of nNOS in the penis.

RESULTSPenile erection was observed in 72.73% (8/11) of the rats for (1.07 +/- 0.89) times within 30 min in the SIS graft group, as compared with 0% (0/11) of the rats for (0.00 +/- 0.00) times in the CN ablation group (P < 0.01), and 90.91% (10/11) of the rats for (2.19 +/- 1.17) times in the sham-operation group (P < 0.01). The number of nNOS nerve fibers was significantly larger in the SIS graft than in the CN ablation group (70.36 +/- 10.09 versus 22.09 +/- 4.76, P < 0.01), but both were significantly smaller than that of the sham-operation group (90.81 +/- 5.69, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe SIS grafting technique contributes to the recanalization of the severed CN and restoration of erectile function in rats after surgical injury.

Animals ; Erectile Dysfunction ; surgery ; Intestinal Mucosa ; transplantation ; Intestine, Small ; Male ; Nerve Regeneration ; Nerve Tissue ; injuries ; surgery ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; innervation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the gene expressions in the stromal cells of the human prostate peripheral zone (PZ) in men of different ages.

METHODSWe primarily cultured stromal cells from the normal prostate PZ of men aged 23 -32 (young group) and 56 -75 years (old group), profiled the gene signature of the PZ cells by cDNA microarray, and defined the differential gene expression patterns by hierarchical cluster analysis. Among the differential genes, we selected and confirmed up-regulated genes by quantitative real time PCR (Q-PCR), and identified their protein coding by Western blotting.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in the gene expressions of the PZ cells between the old and young groups. Based on the fold change ratio of > or = 2 or < or = 0.5, 509 up-regulated and 188 down-regulated genes were selected in the PZ cells. A subset of significantly differential genes influencing the growth of adjacent epithelial cells were identified, including HGF, IGF2, IGFBP5 and MMP1 in the old males.

CONCLUSIONStromal cells in the prostate PZ were more active in older males in promoting the malignant progression of adjacent prostate epithelial cells, which might be due to the increased expression of extracellular paracrining mediators.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective:This article analyzes the cognition and satisfaction evaluation of patients in medical alli-ance. Under the medical alliance mode,the present study tries to explore the choice of medical treatment of patients, the first diagnosis of primary health care institutions and its influencing factors, in order to provide reference for the construction of medical alliance. Methods:With the help of stratified sampling method,eighteen (18) medical alli-ances were selected from 16 districts and counties in Beijing. The survey questionnaire was designed to be used as the tool for data collection. A total of 1 280 patients in medical alliance participated in this study. The Chi-square Test and binary logistic regression model were used for statistical analysis. Results:59.12% of patients understand the medical association and related policies. 39.12% of the patients are satisfied with the medical association,51.44% of patients are willing to take first diagnosis at primary health care institutions. The distribution of medical resources in various districts is uneven. The type of hospital visited,the degree of understanding of medical alliance,the expe-rience of medical alliance and the satisfaction toward medical alliance will have an impact on the willingness about basic initial diagnosis,and the influence make a significant statistical sense. Conclusions:The Medical alliance con-struction in Beijing has achieved a certain effect,as first visit at primary health care institutions will be the initial for-mation. But the unbalanced distribution of medical resources in various districts,the service capacity of primary care institutions which does not meet the needs of patients,the insufficient sensitization of relevant policy and the current health insurance policy are seen as limiting factors to the development of medical alliance.

Objective:In this study,through the description of understanding,behavior,evaluation about med-ical alliances,we explore the problems and made recommendations to medical alliances. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 556 medical staff in 18 medical alliances in Beijing. We used descriptive statistical methods to analyze the situation of cognition and so on. And we compared medical staff evaluation of medical alliances be-tween core hospital and cooperative hospital. Results: Only 5.40 % of medical staff are totally unaware of the medical alliances policy. 38.73 % of the doctors don't conduct two-way referral. 55.69 % of the doctors in the core hospital don't come to the cooperative hospital. 71.40 % of the medical staff think that the operation of the medical alliances is good. There are big differences in the distribution of overall evaluation between core hospital medical staff and cooperative hospital medical staff by rank sum test. Conclusion: The understanding of medical alliances and the evaluation of activities are better. However, the two-way referral effect is not obvious and some specific activities are not ideal.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change of early serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in acute cerebral infarction and its significances.

METHODSSerum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in 30 health subjects and 35 patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) within 6 hours of onset were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); neurological deficits scores (NDS) in all cases were determined, and Spearman test was used for correlation.

RESULTSThe serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in ACI group were markedly higher than those in health subjects and there was a positive correlation of TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels with 6 h NDS (rs=0.89 and 0.93, P<0.001) and with NDS progression (rs=0.90 and 0.91, P<0.001). Early serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in progressive cerebral infarction (PCI) group were evidently higher than those in stable cerebral infarction (SCI)[(49.56+/-12.12) pg/L compared with (24.30+/-7.4) ng/L and (39.76+/-7.88) ng/L compared with (20.78+/-6.28) ng/L, respectively, P<0.01)].

CONCLUSIONThe early serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in ACI markedly increase and are closely correlated with disease severity; which may be of value in PCI risk evaluation.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; Early Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Time Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

BACKGROUNDType 2 cytokine interleukin (IL)-13 and its decoy receptor, IL-13 receptor (R) alpha2 appear to play a major role in tissue fibrosis of schistosomiasis and asthma. IL-13 is a key regulator of the extracellular matrix (ECM). It is known to signal to cells by binding to the IL-13Ralpha1, which then heterodimerizes with IL-4Ralpha. In contrast, IL-13Ralpha2 binds IL-13 with high affinity but does not signal. IL-13Ralpha2 is known to down-regulate granulomatous inflammation and prolong host survival in Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infection, but little is known about the location and expression level of IL-13Ralpha2 in the context of S. japonicum infection.

METHODSWe established S. japonicum-infected mouse models. Kinetic serum levels of IL-13Ralpha2 were examined with ELISA. IL-13Ralpha2 mRNA and protein of liver tissues were determined by PCR and immunoblotting analysis, respectively. Detection of IL-13Ralpha2 expression and location in macrophages was performed by TaqMan PCR and fluorescent immunocytochemistry technique, respectively.

RESULTSA marked elevation of mRNA and protein expression of IL-13Ralpha2 was observed in mice during S. japonicum infection. An enhanced expression of IL-13Ralpha2 was further demonstrated in primary macrophages of murine schistosomiasis.

CONCLUSIONSIL-13Ralpha2 in macrophages may be a critical contributor to pathogenesis of schistosomiasis. The data highlight the potential importance of cell signaling and antifibrotic gene therapeutics in T helper 2 cell (Th2)-mediated diseases.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha2 Subunit ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Random Allocation ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Schistosoma japonicum ; pathogenicity ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; immunology ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo summarize the reasons for bile duct injury (BDI) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), and to determine the effect of multiple treatment after BDI.

METHODSA retrospective cohort study was performed. The medical records of 110 patients diagnosed with BDI after LC from October 1993 to November 2007, in ten large hospitals in Guangdong of China, were reviewed.

RESULTSAmong 110 patients with BDI, 58 cases (52.7%) were local patients, whereas 52 cases (47.3%) were transferred from outside hospitals. Reasons for BDI following LC were: (1) Lack of experience of the LC operator (48.2%); (2) LC performed during acute cholecystitis (20.0%); (3) The structure of Calot triangle was unclear (15.5%); (4) Variable anatomical position (11.8%); (5) Intra-operation bleeding (4.5%). The commonest sites of injury were the choledochus and common hepatic duct (76.4%). Following BDI, endoscopic stenting or operative repair was performed in 106 patients. The overall success rate was 95.3% (101/106), with a mortality rate was 0.9% (1/106). Cholangitis occurred in 3.8% (4/106) cases. Choledocho-enterostomy operation was performed in almost 60.0% (63/106) cases, and the success rate was 93.7% (59/63). Endoscopic stenting or operative repair was performed immediately following BDI in 23.6% (25/106) patients, the success rate was 100%; and within 30 days in 63.2% (67/106) patients. Eighty-eight out of 106 patients who underwent repair were successful following the first operative procedure.

CONCLUSIONSFactors such as an un-experienced operator and unclear anatomical position were causes of BDI following LC. Early operative repair should be regarded as the treatment of choice, in patients diagnosed with BDI. Early refer to an experienced hepatobiliary operator ensures a high success rate.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Ducts ; injuries ; surgery ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Iatrogenic Disease ; Intraoperative Complications ; diagnosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo discuss the effectiveness of individualized strategy of surgical management on the great arteries (TGA).

METHODSFrom March 1998 to October 2009, 127 cases (97 males and 30 females) with TGA were treated. There were 97 male and 30 female, aged from 4 hours old to 17 years old with a mean of (25 ± 37) months, weighted from 2.7 to 47.5 kg with a mean of (8 ± 8) kg. The palliative operations included Glenn operation in 14 cases (3 cases double Glenn procedure), Balalock-Taussing shunt in 14 cases, Banding operation in 8 cases, and atrial septal defect enlarge/Banding/Balalock-Taussing shunt in 15 cases. The end-stage operation included Senning procedure in 5 cases, Switch procedure in 32 cases, 2(nd)-stage Switch procedure in 11 cases, Switch procedure with VSD repairing in 20 cases, Switch procedure with Hybrid in 1 case, Nikaidoh procedure in 3 cases, Rastelli procedure in 13 cases, Fonton procedure in 18 cases, other procedure in 4 cases. Twenty-one cases underwent 2 operations, and 5 cases underwent 3 or more operations. Sixty-six cases underwent delayed sternal closure.

RESULTSThere were 12 cases of death operatively in 127 cases. The total operative mortality was 9.4%. There were 5 cases dying of low cardiac output during the operation, 2 of pulmonary hypertension crisis, 2 of hemorrhage, 1 of grafting problem of coronary artery deformation, 1 of renal failure after Fonton procedure and 1 case of newborn dying of spontaneous rupture of liver post-operatively. The patients were followed up for 1 month to 12 years. There were 10 patients with vary degrees complications such as pulmonary stenosis, residual shunt and narrow channel. Three cases underwent reoperation. The rest of survived cases had normal heart function, good growth and development state.

CONCLUSIONSIndividualized strategy of surgical management based on anatomical conditions of TGA can significantly improve the success rate of surgery and long-term survival.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Transposition of Great Vessels ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome