In order to adapt to the demand of culturing high quality talents and to strengthen student's comprehensive quality,pathophysiology department of medical college of Qinghai University carried on the reform on the pathophysiological experiment examination system.After researches and practices in recent years,we established a set of relatively sound examination system including experiment operating and experiment report in normal study,report for designable experiment and experiment skill and theory exam.Investigation results demonstrated that examination system after reform functioned well in training the students' operation ability,observation ability and ability to analyze and solve questions.

AIM:To provide evidence for the molecular mechanism of homocysteine (Hcy) as an independent risk factor in atherosclerosis (AS) by investigating the effect of Hcy on phenotype transformation and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) in rats.METHODS:After treated with different concentrations of Hcy for 24 h,the cultured VSMCs were assayed for cell proliferation rate by MTT method,cell cycle by flow cytometry,the expression of SM22-? mRNA by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and the observation of morphological characteristics and the phenotype transformation by transmission electron microscopy.RESULTS:Hcy increased the cell proliferation rate and gradually reduced the proportion of the cells in G0 /G1 phase.Hcy down-regulated the expression of SM22? mRNA and the most significant effect was observed at concentration of 1 000 ?mol/L.The observations of transmission electron microscopy revealed an abundant endoplasmic reticulum,Golgi's complex,loose nucleus and puffy chromatin in VSMCs treated with high concentration of Hcy.CONCLUSION:Hcy promotes the proliferation and phenotype transformation of VSMCs simultaneously.

To study the effect of Wansheng Huafeng Dan (WSHFD) and mercuric chloride on renal mercury (Hg) extraction transporters (Oat1, Oct2), renal mercury excretion transporters (Mrp4, Mate2K), renal mercury accumulation and kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1). The ancient prescription of WSHFD containing 10-fold Hg caused much lower renal mercury accumulation and renal toxicity than HgCl2 in rats, with less effect on renal transporters than HgCl2. The above indicators had no significant difference in WSHFDO, WSHFD2 and WSHFD3 groups, indicating no effect of WSHFD with reduced or no cinnabar.
Animals ; Ardisia ; chemistry ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mercuric Chloride ; metabolism ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

ObjectiveTo estimate the clinical efficacy and immunomodulatory effect of polysaccharidenucleic acid fraction of bacillus calmette guerin(BCG-PSN) combined with a traditional Chinese medicine in patients with vitiligo.MethodsThis study recruited 99 patients with vitiligo aged from 13 to 65(35,6 ± 5.8) years.The patients were classified into 3 groups to be treated with BCG-PSN and a traditional Chinese medicine (Baidianfeng granules) alone or in combination.BCG-PSN was intramuscularly injected at a dose of 2 ml every other day and baidianfeng granules were given orally thrice a day,for 3 months.Peripheral blood samples were obtained from the patients at the baseline and after the end of treatment and from 30 healthy controls.Flow cytometry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) were performed to detect T cell subsets and expression level of Fas and Fas ligand(FasL),respectively.Data were analyzed by t test and chi-square test.Results The response rate was significantly higher in patients treated with BCG-PSN combined with Baidianfeng granules than in those with BCG-PSN alone(82.86％ vs.40.63％,P ＜ 0.01 ).Before the treatment,patients showed a lower percentage of CD3+ cells,CD3+CD4+ cells and CD3+CD8+ cells in peripheral blood(all P ＜0.01 ),weaker expression of Fas (P ＜ 0.01 ),but a higher CD4/CD8 ratio (P ＜ 0.01 ) compared with the controls.The treatment with BCG-PSN and Baidianfeng granules alone or in combinatiou all induced an increase in the percentage of CD3+ cells,CD3+CD4+ cells and CD3+CD8+ cells in peripheral blood(P ＜ 0.05) and in the expression of Fas(P ＜ 0.01),but a decrease in CD4/CD8 ratio(P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionsBCG-PSN may induce the normal apoptosis in lymphocytes via reversing the abnormality in the expression of Fas/FasL by peripheral blood lymphocytes,and the effect of BCG-PSN may be enhanced by a traditional Chinese medicine,Baidianfeng granules.

Objective One typical case with stress cardiomyopathy was reported and the current knowledge of the syndrome was reviewed to improve relevant knowledge.Methods A 71-year-old female patient presented dyspnea and chest pain due to emotional stress.ECG,echocardiography,selective coronary artery angiography,left ventriculography,~(99)Tc~m-MIBI single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT),~(18)F-FDG SPECT and MRI were performed.Results Electrocardiogram at admission showed ST segment elevation and T wave inversion in leads V1—V4.Pathological Q wave occurred 1 week later,it disappeared 1 month later however and severe T wave inversion occurred.Normal or slightly elevated cardiac enzymes in the blood were found during the course.Left ventriculogram at admission showed left ventricular apical ballooning with LVEF of 30%.The ballooning volume was about 3/4 of left ventricular volume, without any corresponding coronary artery diseases found in coronary angiogram.The abnormal apical ballooning decreased significantly in the follow-up left ventriculogram performed one month later.The LVEF rose up to 63.6%.~(99)Tc~m-MIBI and ~(18)F-FDG SPECT showed mismatch of perfusion and metabolism in the corresponding region,indicating presence of viable myocardium.MRI showed left ventricular apical ballooning without perfusion defect and late enhancement,indicating viability of corresponding myocardium. Conclusions Emotional stress can cause transient left ventricular apical ballooning called"stress cardiomyopathy".Either ~(99)Tc~m-MIBI SPECT associated with ~(18)F-FDG SPECT or delayed enhancement MRI plays an important role in identification of myocardial viability,which can efficiently guide clinical treatment.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of electroacupuncture(EA)combined with exercise therapy on balance function in patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA). Methods:Seventy patients with KOA were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,with 35 cases in each group.The treatment group was treated with EA combined with exercise therapy.EA was applied to Dubi(ST35),Neixiyan(EX-LE4),Xuehai(SP10),Liangqiu(ST34),Yanglingquan(GB34),and Zusanli(ST 36).Exercise therapy(muscle strength training and knee mobility training)was applied after EA.The control group only received the same exercise therapy as the treatment group.The two groups were treated with the same course of treatment,3 times a week for 4 consecutive weeks,12 times in total,and followed up for 1 month.The Pro-Kin254P balance test system was used to measure the balance function parameters at 4 time points,including before treatment,after 1 session of treatment,after 12 sessions of treatment,and at 1-month follow-up after treatment.The visual analog scale(VAS)and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index(WOMAC)scores were recorded. Results:The markedly effective rate and total effective rate in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.01).The Romberg area,Romberg length,and VAS scores of the two groups decreased significantly after 1 session of treatment,12 sessions of treatment,and 1 month after treatment,and the differences between different time points in the same group were statistically significant(P<0.01).There were significant differences between the two groups at the same time point(P<0.05).The total WOMAC scores of the two groups after 1 session of treatment,12 sessions of treatment,and 1 month after treatment decreased significantly,and there were significant differences between different time points in the same group(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between the two groups at the same time point(P>0.05). Conclusion:EA combined with exercise therapy or exercise therapy alone can enhance the balance function,relieve joint pain,and improve joint function in patients with KOA.EA combined with exercise therapy is superior to exercise therapy alone in improving balance function and pain,but the two treatment protocols have similar effects in improving joint function.

Objective To analyze three different classification criteria, the clinical characteristics of antiphospholipid syndrome(APS)in a cohort of Chinese patients. Methods From January 1996 to October 2006, APS patients diagnosed with different classification criteria were retrospectively studied. Results There were totally 120 APS patients fulfilled at least one criterion, One hundred and one patients fulfilled the 1988 Asherson criteria, 96 patients fulfilled the 1999 Sapporo criteria, and 115 patients fulfilled the 2006 Sydney criteria. The ratio of male to female in a cohort of 115 definite APS patients was 1 to 10.5. The mean period of the disease until entry into the study was 82.6 months, the mean age at study entry was(41?12)years. Ninety patients had thrombosis episodes, among which the most common presenting manifestations were deep venous thrombosis, stroke and skin vasculitis. Forty-six of 92 married women in our cohort had fetal morbidity. Catas- trophic APS occurred in 7 patients. The presence of anticardiolipin antibodies(aCL)was detected in 86 pa- tients, anti-beta-2 glycoproteinⅠantibodies in 58 patients and lupus anticoagulant(LA)in 27 patients. Conclusion The most common presenting manifestations are deep venous thrombosis, stroke and cutaneous manifestations. The sensitivity of Sydney classification criteria is improved by adding anti-beta-2 glycopreteinⅠantibody as one of the laboratory criteria. However, primary APS patients who only presented with thrombo- cytupenia and positive laboratory tests could not satisfy this criterion. In addition, the significance of autoanti- bodies to some coagulant factors in APS needs further study.

BACKGROUNDThe form deprivation (FD) reduces spatial contrasts and induces myopia. Nitric oxide and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) are involved in visual signal transmission. This study investigated changes in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and cGMP concentration in ocular tissues in acute and chronic form deprivation myopia.

METHODSGuinea pigs had one eye covered by translucent glass for 7, 14 or 21 days. Untreated litter mates were used as controls. NOS activity and cGMP concentrations in the retinal, choroidal and scleral tissues of FD eyes and control eyes were analyzed by radioimmunoassay after various durations of FD. The expression of NOS subtypes was identified by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSMyopia was successfully induced in FD eyes after 14 days. Compared with control groups, the retinal NOS activity and cGMP concentrations in the FD eyes significantly increased after 14 and 21 days while the retinal NOS activity in the FD eyes was transiently suppressed by 7 days of FD. The NOS activity and cGMP concentrations of choroid and sclera in the FD eyes were higher than in the control groups at 21 days. The three isoenzymes of nitric oxide synthase were detected in the ocular tissues of guinea pigs.

CONCLUSIONSThe NOS activity and cGMP concentrations were upregulated after chronic FD and the retinal NOS activity was transiently suppressed at acute FD. The function of elevated NOS activity may be mediated by cGMP.

Animals ; Cyclic GMP ; analysis ; Guinea Pigs ; Immunohistochemistry ; Myopia ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Refractive Errors ; Retina ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitory effect of erythritol by contrast to xylitol on growth and acid production of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans).

METHODSS. mutans were incubated respectively in 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 4%, 8%, 12%, 16% erythritol or xylitol culture medium under anaerobic conditions. The A and pH value of the mediums were measured at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 18, 24 hours, following the profile plots by SPSS.

RESULTSThe data of A were higher in 0.5%, 1%, 2% erythritol culture medium than in xylitol culture medium at the same concentration, while lower in 8%, 12%, 16% erythritol culture medium than in xylitol culture medium at the same concentration. The data of pH were lower in 0.5%, 1%, 2% erythritol culture medium than in xylitol culture medium at the same concentration, while higer in 8%, 12%, 16% erythritol culture medium than in xylitol culture medium at the same concentration. It indicated that the growth and acid production of S. mutans were higer in 0.5%, 1%, 2% erythritol culture medium than in xylitol culture medium at the same concentration, while lower in 8%, 12%, 16% erythritol culture medium than in xylitol culture medium at the same concentration.

CONCLUSIONCompared with xylitol, erythritol in low concentration has weaker effort on the growth and acid production of S. mutans, while having stronger effort in high concentration.

Culture Media ; Erythritol ; Streptococcus mutans ; Xylitol

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Oxaliplatin (L-OHP) on cell cycle in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 and the involved mechanism.

METHODSInhibitory effect of L-OHP on the proliferation of HepG2 cells was determined by MTT assay. Cell cycle distribution was shown by flow FCM. The expression levels of cyclinD1, CDK2, CDK4, p16, p21, p53 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSMTT method revealed that L-OHP inhibited proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. L-OHP induced S cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cell; down-regulated the levels of CDK4, cyclinD1 and up-regulated the levels of p21, p53. There were no significant changes of CDK2 and p16 after L-OHP treatment.

CONCLUSIONL-OHP inhibits the proliferation of HepG2 cells by blocking cell at S stage, which may be resulted from the activity of CDK4, CyclinD1 and p21.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; pharmacology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism