AIM: To investigate the relationship between up-regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression and activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase ( ERK) pathways by TGF-β1 in human ovarian cancer cells .METHODS: PAI-1 expression in human ovarian cancer cells treated with TGF-β1 (10 μg/L)was assayed by real-time PCR and Western blotting.The activation of p38 MAPK and ERK was determined by Western blotting using phosphorylated p 38 MAPK and phosphorylated ERK antibodies . Specific p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) or ERK inhibitor (PD98059) was used to inhibit their activation .RESULTS:TGF-β1 up-regulated the expression of PAI-1, and activated p38 MAPK and ERK pathways in the ovarian cancer cells .In-hibition of p38 MAPK activation by SB203580 resulted in significant inhibition of the mRNA expression of PAI-1 induced by TGF-β1.However, inhibition of ERK activation did not significantly alter TGF-β1-induced increase in PAI-1 mRNA level.CONCLUSION: TGF-β1-activated p38 MAPK pathway contributes to the up-regulation of PAI-1 expression by TGF-β1 in ovarian cancer cells .

In this paper, the question about automatic brightness control for x-ray imaging systems based on CCD camera is discussed, and the structure and principle of an auto brightness control loop are analyzed along with the working procedure of the x-ray imaging system. A kind of digital brightness controller about a typical device and the designing idea of the computer brightness intelligent control software is introduced.
Algorithms ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Radiation Protection ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; instrumentation ; Radiography ; instrumentation ; X-Ray Intensifying Screens

To screen and identify the possible pathogen of the firstly confirmed human case of avian influenza A in Beijing, the throat swabs and tracheal aspirates of this case were collected and the H5N1 viral nucleotide was tested with real time RT-PCR. The certification of result, screening of other pathogens in respiratory tract and sub-typing of influenza viruses were made by using re-sequencing microarray. It was found that the H5N1 viral nucleic acid was positive in the tracheal aspirate of this case by means of detection with real time RT-PCR and the specific sequence of the non-structural protein (NS) gene of H5N1 virus was obtained through the detection with re-sequencing clip. Through the comparative study with the sequence in Genbank, it was proved to be the H5N1 nucleic acid of avian influenza viruses and excluded the possibility of infections with 30 subtypes of influenza viruses and 33 other respiratory tract pathogens. It is apparent that the pathogen detection with re-sequencing clip shows the high sensitivity and specificity and it plays an important role in the pathogen screening and identification for the firstly confirmed human case of avian influenza A in Beijing.

Objective:To study effects of large dose thymopeptides on T cell subpopulations of patients with malignant tumor under radiotherapy.Methods:Fifty one patients with malignant tumor under radiotherapy were divided into 2 groups with 100 mg and 200 mg thymopeptides respectively.The patients we re given thymopeptides,100 mg/d or 200 mg/d,iv, for 10 days.The positive percent ages of CD4,CD8,CD25 and CD56 in T cells of peripheral blood before and after thymopeptide treatment were determined by flow cytometry.Results:The positive percentages of CD4 and CD25 in T cells of peripheral bl ood after 100 mg/d thymopeptide treatment were significantly higher than those befor e thymopeptide treatment (P<0.05),while those of CD4，CD8，CD25 and CD56 in T cells of peripheral blood after 200 mg/d thymopeptide treatment all increased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion:These results suggest that large dose of thymopeptides can increase i mmune function of patients with malignant tumor under radiotherapy,and the curat ive effect of 200 mg/d thymopeptides is better.

The relevant policies of national essential medicine system were reviewed, major concerns and actions in the implementation of essential medicine system in Shanghai were introduced, and the suggestions to improve the implementation of essential medicine system of Shanghai were made. These provided the information for policy making and provided a useful experience for facilitating the establishment of essential medicine system and the improvement of its implementation in Shanghai as well as China.

The content of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the aerial part of Panax notoginseng in different productive area was determined by using high performance liquid chromatography. HPLC analysis was made on a C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm,5 microm) with acetonitrile and water containing 4.1 g x L(-1) sodium acetate as mobile phase. The detection wavelength was 254 nm. The HPLC method showed good linearity within the range of 0.01 - 1.03 g x L(-1). The average recovery of GABA in the stems and leaves of P. notoginseng and the flowers of P. notoginseng was 101.7% (RSD 1.1%, n = 3) and 97.3% (RSD 0.38%, n = 3), respectively. The contents of GABA in the samples of different productive areas were not significant different, and the average contents of GABA in the stems and leaves of P. notoginseng and the flowers of P. notoginseng were 0.49% and 0.53%. This method was simple and reliable, and it was suitable for the determination of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the aerial part of P. notoginseng.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo make full use of the plant resources of Panax notoginseng, nutritional compositions and mineral elements were analyzed in aerial part of P. notoginseng from different areas in Yunnan.

METHODUsing the national standard method, water, ash, crude fat, crude fiber, crude protein and mineral elements were determined in aerial part of P. notoginseng from different growing areas.

RESULTResults showed that there were higher contents of crude fiber and crude protein, and lower content of crude fat in the stems and flowers of P. notoginseng. Meanwhile, a large number of mineral elements were determined in two locations of P. notoginseng, and the contents of Zn, Fe, Mn, Ca and Mg were obvious higher among these mineral elements.

CONCLUSIONThis study showed that the stems and flowers of P. notoginseng were nutritious and suggested that the aerial part may be utilized as new resources foods.

Flowers ; chemistry ; Nutritive Value ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Trace Elements ; analysis

Objective To evaluate whether flexible ambrosia,by which people can take special prebiotics instead of dining to alleviate their sense of hunger is a healthy, safe and effective weight loss method by analyzing the effects of flexible ambrosia on body weight, body composition, physiological and chemical indexes of young volunteers.Methods Young volunteers were tested on flexible ambrosia for seven days using special prebiotics instead of normal food.Body weight, waist circumference, body composition and blood biochemical indexes ( blood pressure, blood glucose, liver function, renal function, blood electrolyte, and blood lipid ) were measured and recorded before and after the test respectively.The volunteers′subjective feelings ( hunger, energy, fatigue, etc) were recorded during the test every day by way of e-form records.Results All volunteers of the flexible ambrosia test reduced their body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, visceral fat index (VAI) and body fat rate (Fat,%)significantly (P<0.01)in seven days, while the body water rate, muscle mass, body protein and bone did not significantly change or rise.There was no significant functional abnormity of the liver kidney, or blood electrolytes and blood lipid.All volunteers were in good physical condition, high-spirited and slept well, high quality sleep, without any obvious hunger and fatigue response in seven days.Conclusion Flexible ambrosia seems to be a healthy, safe and effective method, and provides an important scientific basis and reference for weight loss in the military.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of Bone mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs) intraarticular injection on the pathological development of collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) rats.MethodsCIA Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups:the saline injection control group and the BMSCs injection group.BMSCs were isolated from normal rats and cultured in vitro till P2 generation,which were injected into the affected the ankle joint consequently.After 2,4,8,12 weeks of processing,the following indexes were observed:arthritis score and X-ray.Twelve weeks later,all of the rats were sacrificed and the following histological indexes were evaluated:cartilage destruction and cartilage extracellular matrix secretion.Paired samples t-test was used for the statistical comparison.ResultsAll the arthritis indexes of the BMSCs group were much lower.than those of the saline control group.The arthritis scores were 3.18±0.62 vs 3.84±0.35 (at week 2),3.45±0.28 vs 5.96±0.48(at week 4),3.86±0.23 vs 6.75±0.36(at week 8),4.23±0.43 vs 7.86±0.66 (at week 12) respectively.X-ray scores were 2.04±0.21 vs 2.72±0.15(at week 2),2.52±0.47 vs 4.06±0.38 (atweek 4),3.56±0.29 vs 4.35±0.36 (at week 8),3.73±0.43 vs 4.86±0.62(at weekl2) respectively and the histological evaluation indexes were 2.34±0.22 vs 3.52±0.55 (at week 12).ConclusionBMSCs injection may inhibit the pathological development of CIA rats,and it may be a promising approach for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Meridians and Acupoints Science is a basic course and important component of acupuncture and Tuina science. This course contains considerable theoretical and basic knowledge to be memorized, which causes some difficulties for students to study and inevitably influences the learning effect. In view of that, the authors implemented reforms in interest teaching practice in teaching of Meridians and Acupoints Science. Reforms including the use of interesting memory method, string comparison of acupoints, interspersed discussion of cases, presentation of famous doctors' experience in acupoint application and development of the second class activities have achieved some success. That has aroused the students' enthusiasm for learning and improved the quality of teaching.