Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a non-Alzheimer dementia syndrome characterized by focal atrophy of the frontal and/or temporal lobes. Recently, it has been found that FTLD is related to the degeneration of tau protein, and is closely associated with corticobasal ganglionic degeneration, progressive supranuclear palsy, and motor neuron disease. This article reviews the progress in etiology, genetics, pathology, clinical features, and diagnostic criteria of FTLD.

By exploring the fitting teaching methods and models oriented to these foreign students,the problems such as language,teaching materials,objectives existing in the basic medicine subjects teaching for South-Asian students are discussed,in order to further enhance the quality of teaching and reinforce the international cooperation of medicine education.

Objective To compare the therapeutic effect of endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) and β-blockers plus isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN) in prevention of esophageal varieeal re-bleeding. Methods The randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on EVL and β-blockers plus ISMN for the prevention of esophageal varieeal re-bleeding were searched, and only the results from those with Jadad score higher than 3 were eval-uated with RevMan 4. 2 software for odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%C1). Analysis of sensitivity was performed on the quality of the data and publication bias was investigated with funnel plots. Results Four trials matched the criteria were recruited including 504 cases with a follow-up from 8 to 25 months. There was no significant difference in rates of re-bleeding (OR =0. 93, 95% CI =0. 41 ～ 2. 11 ; P = 0. 87), re-bleeding due to esophageal varices (OR = 0. 68, 95% CI = 0. 19 ～ 2. 37 ; P = 0. 54), therapy-re-lated adverse effects (OR = 1.12, 95% CI =0. 75 ～ 1.67, P = 0. 57), severe adverse events (OR = 0. 89, 95% CI =0. 47 ～ 1.67, P = 0. 71), bleeding-related mortality (OR = 2. 11, 95% CI = 0. 88 ～ 5.08, P = 0. 10), or overall mortality (OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 0. 95 ～ 2. 24, P = 0. 09) between EVL and β-blockers plus ISMN groups. However, a trend towards lower bleeding-related mortality and overall mortality favored drug therapy. There was no heterogeneity found in the outcomes apart from re-bleeding (P = 0. 003) or re-bleeding from esophageal varices (P <0. 0001). The result of sensitivity analysis remained statistically sta-ble. Symmetric funnel plots showed there was no evidence of publication bias. Conclusion EVL and β-blockers plus ISMN show an equivalent efficacy and safety for the prevention of esophageal variceal re-bleed-ing. There is a trend towards lower bleeding-related mortality and overall mortality in drug therapy. But EVL is free from drug-related side effects, and its adverse events are similar to those of drug therapy. Thus, either of the two approaches can be used as the first choice for prophylaxis of re-bleeding of esophageal varices.

There are no anatomic or physiologic criteria for the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the disease is defined mainly on exclusion of organic lesions. Therefore, quite a few patients with IBS are not promptly diagnosed and treated. It is important to apply RomeⅡCriteria, instead of its limitation, in those who have abdominal pain with relief by defecation, sensation of incomplete evacation after defacation, passage of rectal mucus and abdominal distention, and to employ endoscope and laboratory studies necessary for those with "red flags" to exclude organic diseases. Recent advances in the research of IBS demonstrated that predisposing factors such as intestinal inflammation may contribute to changes in the intestinal mucosal immune system, resulting in hypersensitivity of afferent nerves and abnormal intestinal motility. Severe life events or/and chronic depression are more likely to associate with the patterns of IBS and its severity, and to have relation with post infection IBS. Behind the above mentioned factors there may exist specific genetic abnormality.

The purpose of our study is to determine whether the slow Ca2 + channel blocker, nicardipiae, could prevent or reduce the cardiac to-xicity induced by ouabain. The guinea pig heart in vivo and vitro perfusion of the isolated heart were used for the study . The results demonstrated that nicardipine ( i .v .50?g? kg-1') could significantly increase the doses of ouabain induced arrhythmias and death(P

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) is considered as the standard treatment for acid-related disorders. However, its long-term use, especially in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, would cause potential risks, such as hypergastrinemia along with reduced gastric acidity, hyperplasia of enterochromaffin cells (ECL), gastric neoplasms, rebound gastric acid hypersecretion when PPI treatment is stopped, increased oxyntic gastritis in patients with H. pylori infection, and the possible stimulation of growth of non-gastric tumours due to hypergastrinaemia. Each of these trends has led to numerous studies and evaluations on the potential risk-benefit ratio of the long-term use of PPIs, and countermeasures are being proposed for these problems.

Objective The author investigated the clinical features of the the patients with acute pancreatitis and hyperlipaemia (hypertriglyceridaemia),in order to intensify the knowledge of the condition.Methods Forty-three patients with acute pancreatitis were randomly selected and assigned into 2 grups,i.e.,those with hyperlipaemia (11cases) and those with billiary type (32 cases).Results Among the 43 cases,7 were acute necrotizing pancreatitis (5 in hyperlipaemia group).Enumeration correlation demonstrated significant positive correlation between hyperglyceridaemia and the necrotizing type of acute pancreatitis (? 2=6.58,P)or diabetics were significantly higher in hyperglyceridaemia group than in acute billiary pancreatitis group, and so was the life-threatening complications.Conclusion ①Hyperglyceridaemia bears significant positive correlation to the necrotizing type of acute pancreatitis and its life-threatening complications as well.②Diet control,reducing body weight and application of anti-hyperlipaemia drugs will be helpful in prevention and treatment of the relapse of the disease.

AIM:To investigate the effect of tanshinone IIA on the apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothe -lial cells (HUVECs) after high glucose treatment.METHODS:The cell viability was determined by MTT assay.The cell apoptotic rate was examined by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining .The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax, and the release of mitochondrial cytochrome C ( Cyt C) were analyzed by Western blotting .RESULTS: Tanshinone IIA significantly inhibited high glucose-induced decrease in cell viability and increased the cell apoptosis .Additionally, after tanshinone IIA treatment , Bax expression and the release of mitochondrial Cyt C were significantly inhibited , while Bcl-2 expression was increased .CONCLUSION: Tanshinone IIA prevents high glucose-induced endothelial cell apoptosis via mitochondria-dependent pathway .

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Xinmailong (XML), Xiangdan (XD) and Shenmai (SM) Injection on early kidney damage induced by toxin of grass carp bile (GCB) and provide experimental evidence for Chinese medicine in treating toxication of GCB. METHODS: GCB (6ml/kg) was administered orally to adult SD rats to induce the model of GCB intoxication and a single intraperitoneal injection of XML, XD or SM was administered 10 min later. RESULTS: It was found that the levels of blood creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were decreased and the creatinine clearance rate was increased by XML, XD or SM. Degenerated epithelial cells of proximal convoluted tubules and glomeruli containing red blood cells in saccular cavities were decreased as compared with the normal group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The Chinese medicine XML, XD and SM Injection have therapeutic effects on early kidney damage induced by toxin of GCB.

Objective To identify the effect of oral cod liver oil on serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25 (OH)D] level in breast-fed infants during winter.Methods Healthy newborn infants were recruited at Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics between December 2009 and February 2010 for the self-controlled study.Serum samples were obtained with 2 ml umbilical cord blood for each neonate.The neonates received vitamin D supplementation in the form of oral cod liver oil from 15 days to 4 months after birth.For each exclusively breastfed infant,2 ml fasting venous blood was collected at the end of postnatal 4 months to separate serum.Serum 25 (OH) D concentrations of the infants were determined with umbilical cord blood serum and venous blood serum.Results Altogether 43 exclusively breastfed infants were enrolled,including 26 boys and 17 girls.The mean serum 25 (OH)D concentration in umbilical cord blood was (20.9 ± 5.1) nmol/L (12.5-32.1 nmol/L).All the neonates were vitamin D deficient.The mean serum 25 (OH) D concentration in infants at 4 months was (106.3 ± 42.4) nmol/L (30.2-208.5 nmol/L).Among the infants,the serum 25 (OH) D level was ＜ 50 nmol/L in 4 infants (the rate of vitamin D deficiency being 9.3％),50-75 nmol/L in 7,75-150 nmol/L in 25,and ≥150 nmol/L in 7.A positive correlation was detected between serum 25(OH)D level and cod liver oil dose (r =0.530,P =0.001).The average percentage of the missed doses (missed doses/prescribed doses) was 36.1％,negatively correlated with serum 25 (OH)D level (r =-0.634,P =0.001).Conclusions Vitamin D deficiency is common among infants born during winter in northern China.Daily oral intake of cod liver oil in infants can significantly increase serum 25 (OH) D level; However,the prevention of vitamin D deficiency cannot be ensured if doses are missed.