BACKGROUND: Different processes of thinking may lead to the same results, which represent one of the forms of the complexity of the human brain.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the similarity in the results of thinking and difference in the thinking process by means of questionnaires.DESIGN: A comparative analysis of the answers in the final term examination with the difference in answers analyzed by x2 test with contingency table.SETTING: Department of Physiology, Medical College of Henan University of Science and Technology.PARTICIPANTS: This study was conducted between June and November,2004, involving totally 300 volunteered second-year medical students (150male and 150 female, aged 20-22 years) of the medical school of Henan Science and Technology University who took their final examination in physiology.METHODS: The first "question for thinking" in the final examination was taken as an example, and the papers with full score for this question (completely correct group, n=42) and zero score (totally wrong group, n=49)were chosen, from which one paper was randomly selected from each group. The first 10 words in the answer to the question was used as the control and compared with the answers of the other papers word by word.Each same word was given a score of 1 and otherwise a score of 0, and the number of the same words and different words were counted for comparison. Meanwhile the total words of the answer were also counted and compared. The difference in the answers was analyzed with x2 test with contingency table.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The difference in the first 10 words between completely correct group and totally wrong group.RESULTS: Totally 42 students in the complete correct group and 49 in totally wrong group were included in the final result analysis. The number of the total words of the answer was different between the students in spite of the same scores. The first 10 words of the chosen paper in completely correct group was significantly different from those in the other 41 papers (x2=270.978, P ＜ 0.01); there was also significant difference in the first 10words between the chosen paper and the other 41 papers in totally wrong group (x2=285.153, P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Longitudinal thinking as well as lateral thinking processes are different between persons.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of real-time quantitative PCR (RtPCR) with small volume regarding the stability, efficiency and reliability of amplification, and determine the optimal quantity of cDNA template suitable for small PCR volume. Methods The experiment was carried out in 3 groups with 10, 15 and 20μL reaction volume, respectively. In each group, rat β-actin mRNA was detected by RtPCR with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 or 0.4μL rat cDNA as template, respectively. The amplification curve and melting curve were used to evaluate the reaction stability. The fitting of a curve of gradient templates against threshold cycle numbers was to show the reaction efficiency and the linear correlativity was to estimate the suitability of the template quantity. In addition, in order to estimate reliability, pristane-induced arthritis (PIA) rat model was established, and spleen TNF-α mRNA expression was detected by RtPCR with the selected reaction volumes. Results The amplification of rat β-actin mRNA was specific and stable in 10μL, 15μL and 20μL PCR volume, and had a high efficiency. Furthermore, the standard curves fitted by 0.1-0.4μL gradient templates showed a significant linear correlation in each volume group. When the 10μL and 20μL PCR volumes, and 0.2μL cDNA templates were chosen, the TNF-α mRNA expression in PIA rat spleen showed significant upregulation in both two volume groups as anticipated. Conclusion The experiment shows that it is feasible in the RtPCR amplification to use the small reaction volume of 10μL and 15μL, which has good stability and reliability. And 0.1-0.4μL templates are all suitable for the reaction system. PCR with small volume can not only save the reagents and template, especially rare clinical specimens, but also is helpful for the realization of high-throughput reaction.

Objective:To observe immunological indexes,the quantity of cytokine expression and clinical curative effect of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells between before and after the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus patients.Methods:Selected 10 cases of SLE,on the basis of glucocorticoid and immune inhibitor treatment,intravenous injection UC-MSC of cultivating proliferation within 6 generations.Before and after treatment of UC-MSC testing the relative quantity of cytokine of CTLA-4,IL-15,IL-2,CD86,IL-17c,Foxp3,TGF-β2 which were related of immunopathogenesis of SLE.Before and after treatment to determined SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) score and detection of blood in the urine routine,liver and kidney function,24 hours urinary protein quantitative,immunoglobulin and complement levels.Results:After treatment the relative expression value of IL-15 and IL-2 was decreased,CTLA-4 was risen.There had no significant difference with the relative expression value of CD86,IL-17c,Foxp3,TGF-β2 in before and after treatment of UC-MSC.After treatment serum complement C3 and C4 level,serum albumin,were risen.24 hour proteinuria and SLEDAI were decreased.There was no serious adverse reaction occurred,no complications related to transplantation in 10 cases.Conclusion:UC-MSC can regulate the expression of cytokines of participate in the immune response in the patients with SLE.Treatment of SLE by UC-MSC can elevate serum albumin and C3 and C4 level,reduce the 24 hours urinary protein quantity,relife kidney damage,improve clinical symptoms;UC-MSC transplantation in patients with SLE have good security;UC-MSC transplantation may be a feasible method for the treatment of SLE.

Hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) is referred to a common type of cerebral damage, which is caused by injury, leading to shallow bleeding in the cortex with intact cerebral pia mater. In recent years, studies show that a various kinds of immune cells and immune cellular factors are involved in the occurrence of HIBD. CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) is a representative of CC chemokine receptor, and is widely distributed in cerebral neuron, astrocyte, and microglial cells, and is the main chemo-tactic factor receptor in brain tissue. CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) is a kind of basophilic protein and the ligand of CCR2, and plays an important role in inflammation. In order to provide evidence for correlational studies in HIBD, this review will introduce the biological characteristics of CCR2 and CCL2, and illustrate the relationship between the immunoreactivity and HIBD.
Animals ; Brain Injuries/pathology* ; Cerebral Cortex/physiopathology* ; Chemokine CCL2/metabolism* ; Chemokines, CC/metabolism* ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain/metabolism* ; Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins/metabolism* ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, CCR2/metabolism*

Objective To explore determinants of functional tricuspid regurgitation with twodimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography,and to provide theoretical basis for surgery treatments.Methods Fifty-six subjects with left-sided valular diseases and tricuspid regurgitation underwent 2D and 3D echocardiography examinations.The tricuspid annulus diameter,the valvular tethering height and right ventricular volume and ejection fraction were measured.Results Based on the degree of tricuspid regurgitation,the patients were grouped into mild regurgitation (group 1) and moderate or more regurgitation (group 2).Comparing the two groups by t test,the tricuspid annulus diameter,the largest distance of tricuspid valvular tethering and the end-diastolic right ventricle volume had significantly enlarged in group 2 ( P ＜0.01 ).And the degrees of tricuspid regurgitation had good correlations with the annulus diameter,the valvular tethering,the right ventricular volume and pulmonary artery systolic pressure.Also,the 3D echocardiography revealed there were some valvular pathologies aggravating regurgitation.Conclusions The degree of functional tricuspid regurgitation is mainly determined by the annulus dilation and pulmonary hypertension.Further more,the 3D echocardiography can give us more details of the valves.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) is a member of cyclin-dependent kinase family, which does not directly regulate cell cycle. Through phosphorylation of target protein, CDK5 plays an irreplaceable role in the development, reparation and degeneration of neurons. Brain injury refers to the organic injury of brain tissue caused by external force hit on the head. Owing to the stress and repair system activated by our body itself after injury, various proteins and enzymes of the brain tissues are changed quantitatively, which can be used as indicators for estimating the time of injury. This review summarizes the progress on the distribution, the activity mechanism and the physiological effects of CDK5 after brain injury and its corresponding potential served as a marker for brain injury determination.
Brain/physiopathology* ; Brain Injuries/physiopathology* ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5/metabolism* ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism* ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology* ; Phosphorylation/drug effects* ; Time Factors

BACKGROUNDTamsulosin, an alpha-1 receptor antagonist, has been demonstrated effective in promoting distal ureteral stone passage and in reducing pain associated with stone expulsion. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tamsulosin in comparison with nifedipine and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) on the expulsion rate of distal ureteral stones at different sizes.

METHODSWe assigned 314 patients to three categories: I, the stone with maximal diameter of 4.0 - 5.9 mm; II, 6.0 - 7.9 mm, and III, 8.0 - 9.9 mm. Patients in each category were randomly subdivided into three treatment subgroups: group A (nifedipine group), group B (tamsulosin group), and group C (ESWL group). Stone-free rate and the dose of analgesics were recorded weekly during the 4-week follow-up period.

RESULTSThree hundred and three patients completed the study. The results showed that nifedipine and tamsulosin treatments promoted a small (4 - 8 mm, categories I and II) stone expulsive rate that was comparable with ESWL treatment. Nonetheless, when the stone diameter was 8.0 - 9.9 mm, ESWL showed a greater stone free rate than nifedipine and tamsulosin treatments; no significant difference existed between the latter two therapies. Although the ESWL treatment group required the least analgesics, tamsulosin treatments required less pain medication than nifedipine (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTamsulosin treatment is recommended for patients with the stone diameter smaller than 8 mm because of its feasibility, effectiveness and safety. ESWL is more appropriate than tamsulosin therapy for the patients whose stones are larger than 8 mm.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Adult ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nifedipine ; therapeutic use ; Sulfonamides ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Ureteral Calculi ; drug therapy ; therapy

Xi'an Jiaotong University has proposed the concept of "less teaching and more learning, interaction between guiding and learning" in medical education, based on its sedimentary deposits, and carried out reform for all clinical medical students since 2001. After more than ten years of educational reform, we have built brand new management framework, and established integrated organ system-based curriculum and PBL teaching pattern. This pattern involves eight aspects of comprehensive reform, including training program, curriculum model, textbook, teaching method, learning style, assessment and evaluation, teaching organization, teaching conditions and guarantee. It will provide paradigm for the integrated curriculum reform in peer colleges, and will be a milestone in the history of medical education in China.

OBJECTIVETo explore the synergetic effect of norcantharidin (NCTD) and adriamycin (ADR) on the proliferation and apoptosis of multiple myeloma (MM) cells.

METHODSHuman MM cell line U266 cells were treated with NCTD alone (10 µmol/L) or in combination with ADR (0.25 µmol/L). MTT and Annexin V/PI staining were used to determine cell viability and apoptosis. The protein expression of nuclear factor-κB P65 (NF-κB P65), phosphorylated NF-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65), NF-κB P65 inhibitor IκBα, phosphorylated IκBα (p-IκBα), survivin, Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by Western blot. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

RESULTS(1) NCTD potentiated the cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic effects induced by ADR. The combination of NCTD and ADR had synergistic anti-proliferation effect. (2) Combination of ADR and NCTD downregulated the expression of nuclear NF-κB P65 and cytoplasm p-IκBα induced by ADR. The expression of nuclear NF-κB P65 and cytoplasm p-IκBα decreased from 2.08 ± 0.29 and 0.39 ± 0.07 to 0.48 ± 0.08 and 0.02 ± 0.01 respectively, while the expression of the cytoplasm NF-κB P65 and IκBα were unchanged in the ADR alone group and the combined group. (3) The expression of survivin and bcl-2 decreased from 0.31 ± 0.05 and 0.23 ± 0.05 to 0.03 ± 0.02 and 0.05 ± 0.02, while the expression of Bax increased from 0.46 ± 0.06 to 0.62 ± 0.08 respectively in ADR alone group and combined group. (4) The positive rate of VEGF in ADR group and combination group were (44.6 ± 4.4)% and (27.0 ± 2.1)% respectively, indicating that NCTD could potentiate the inhibition effect on VEGF induced by ADR.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that NCTD can potentialize the chemosensitivity of multiple myeloma cells to ADR through regulating NF-κB/IκBα signaling pathway and NF-κB-regulated gene products including survivin, Bcl-2, Bax and VEGF.

Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Humans ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Multiple Myeloma ; metabolism ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the collagen changes of allografting an acellular dermal matrix (allo-ADM).

METHODSThe allo-ADM was grafted underneath the skin of SD rats. The content of collagen and the proportion of type I to III collagen was examined with a biochemical assay.

RESULTThe content of collagen and the proportion of type I to III collagen in the allo-ADM group showed no significant changes.

CONCLUSIONThe allo-ADM could keep long time in the body and it may be an ideal material for soft tissue filling.

Animals ; Collagen ; analysis ; Dermis ; metabolism ; transplantation ; Female ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Transplantation, Homologous