Toinvestigate the implementation mode and effectiveness of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in experimental teaching of physiology,PBL was applied in experimental teaching of circulatory physiology. Comparison of test scores and Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) were used to evaluate teaching quality and teaching environment respectively. The results showed that both test and DREEM scores were higher in PBL group than in control group (P

Objective To investigate the effect of angiotensinⅡ(AngⅡ) type 1 receptor blocker losartan on the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression in metabolic syndrome (MS)kidney. Methods Seven-week-old male obese Zucker rats,a model of MS,were randomly divided into losartan treated and untreated group,and lean Zucker rats were used as controls.The obese Zucker rata of treated group received losartan for 4 months continuously.COX-2 expression was examined for all rats after 4 months.AngⅡ-stimulated mesangial cells and cortical tissue from AngⅡ-infused C57BL/6 mouse kidney by osmotic minipumps were used in this study.RNA and protein were obtained from renal cortical tissue or mesangial cells for RT-PCR and Western blot.Results Compared to the lean controls,obese Zucker rats showed a significant increase of COX-2 expression in the renal cortical tissue and these abnormalities were prevented by administration of losartan. Furthermore,the direct stimulation of AngⅡincreased COX-2 expression in mesangial cells in vitro and renal cortical tissue in vivo.Conclusions MS-induced COX-2 expression in the kidney is regulated by AngⅡ.Losartan as a non COX-2 inhibitor can protect MS kidney,at least in part,by inhibition of COX-2 activation.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics and the prognostic factors of breast cancer patients with skip metastases in the axilla.

METHODSThe clinical data of 1502 breast cancer patients who underwent complete axillary lymph node dissection were retrospectively reviewed. The patterns of skip metastases, clinical features and prognostic factors were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 1502 patients, lymph node metastases were found in 814, of whom skip metastases in 119 (14.6%, 119/814). The Clinicopathologic factors such as age, tumor size, tumor location, clinical stage, hormonal receptor status and involved interpectoral lymph nodes were not correlated with skip metastases (P > 0.05). The disease free survival rate was lower in clinical stage I and II patients with skip metastases than that in those without (P = 0.003), while no significant difference was observed in clinical stage III patients (P = 0.457). Multivariate analysis showed that the tumor size, number of metastatic lymph nodes, extracapsular invasion of the lymph nodes and skip metastases in the axilla were significantly correlated with survival rate.

CONCLUSIONSkip metastasis in the axilla cannot be accurately predicted by clinicopathologic factors. Early breast cancer patients with skip metastases should be treated properly due to poor prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Axilla ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of cadmium chloride in anterior pituitary and the relation between apoptosis and expression of procaspase-9 mRNA.

METHODSIn vivo studies:40 SD male rats were randomly distributed into four groups which were administered with CdCl2 at different doses by gavage for 6 weeks;

IN VITRO STUDIESthe rats' anterior pituitary cells were primarily cultured for 120 hours, then treated with CdCl2 at the dose of 0, 1.56, 3.12, 6.25, 12.50, 25.00, 50.00, 100.00 micromol/L for 6 hours; The indices included: expression of procaspase-9 mRNA, detection of apoptosis with TUNEL assay.

RESULTSThe results showed the excretion of ACTH, LH seemed to be decreased dramatically and the apoptosis inclined to enhance remarkably, and further more, the expression of procaspase-9 mRNA appeared to be increased significantly as compared with those of the control. It was show that a dose-effect relationship between the CdCl2 dosing and indices above with the regression analysis and a linear correlation between the mean gray value of apoptosis cell and the relative gray value of procaspase-9 mRNA positive cell. The results indicated that damnification, for example, apoptosis could be caused by certain dose of CdCl2 in anterior pituitary cells with dose dependent manner. Caspase-9 might play a role in the occurrence of apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONIt was suggested that cadmium could induce apoptosis of anterior pituitary both in vivo and in vitro in the manner of dose-dependent, and caspase-9 might play a role during above processes.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cadmium Chloride ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Caspase 9 ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Male ; Pituitary Gland, Anterior ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

In order to explore what role relative cytokines play in acute GVHD (aGVHD) of mice transplanted with H-2 haploidentical nonmyeloablative bone marrow, a murine model was established by using C57BL/6J mouse as donor and (C57BL/6J x BALB/C) F1 mouse as the recipient. The recipient mice were given CsA and mycophenolate mofetile (MMF) for prophylaxis of aGVHD. The expression levels of IL-2, INFgamma, IL-4 and IL-10 in the spleen were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR at different time points after transplantation. The results showed that the expression levels of these cytokines increased slightly in the group only received nonmyeloablative conditioning. The expression levels of IL-2 and INF-gamma elevated significantly after transplantation in group 2 (without aGVHD prophylaxis), peaked at day 21 and day 14 respectively, then dropped rapidly, returned to the basal levels at day 35. The study on kinetic pattern of expression of IL-2 and INF-gamma in group 3 (with aGVHD prophylaxis) gave a similar result to group 2, but the peak value of cytokine expression in group 3 was much lower than that in group 2. The expression of IL-4 in Group 2 and group 3 all peaked at day 14, but the peak value in group 3 was higher than that in group 2, and decreased slowly in group 3. The expression of IL-10 increased gradually after transplantation, peaked at day 14, decreased after day 21, elevated again until day 35. It is concluded that the expression levels of these cytokines in the spleen all increase after H-2 haploidentical nonmyeloablative bone marrow transplantation. CsA and MMF can reduce the incidence and severity of aGVHD by down-regulating the expression levels of IL-2 and INF-gamma.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; immunology ; methods ; Cyclosporine ; administration & dosage ; Cytokines ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; H-2 Antigens ; genetics ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; Interleukin-2 ; genetics ; Kinetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mycophenolic Acid ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective To compare the prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome(MS)using the criteria of Chi- nese Diabetes Society(CDS)or International Diabetes Federation(IDF)in hypertension patients in China.Methods The prevalence of MS in hypertension patients(n=17861)in China and its relations with age,gender and levels of blood pressure were studied.Results 1)the prevalence of MS in hypertension patients was 42.2 % or 46.3 %,ac- cording to the definition of CDS or of IDF.The diagnostic rate of the definition of IDF was higher(P80 years group,the diagnostic rate by IDF definition was slightly but significantly higher in all ages groups(P0.05),on contrary,the female prevalence was increased while the male prevalence decreased by IDF. The prevalence of MS increased with levels of blood pressure by both definition.4)The prevalence rate was in- creased with the elevation of BP,compare with CDS criteria the diagnostic rate of MS was slightly higher by IDF cri- teria in all levels of BP.Conclusion Compared with the definition of CDS,the diagnostic rate of MS by the defini- tion of IDF was higher in hypertension patients,addressing more aggressively control global risk factors.

Embryonic hematopoiesis in mammals is characterized by successive temporal and spatial changes. Previous investigations indicate that in vitro differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ES cells) derived from 129 mice can mimic embryonic hematopoiesis to some extent. To investigate the in vitro hematopoietic differentiation capacity of ES cells derived from C57BL/6 mice, the authors initially established the murine ES cell line with standard identification methods employed. Next, two-step culture system was utilized for embryoid bodies formation and the appearance of different hematopoietic precursors was confirmed by CFC assay, cellular chemical staining as well as RT-PCR. The results demonstrated that the ES cell line MES-1 fulfilled the criteria of ES cell line and its progeny after in vitro differentiation included primitive and definitive erythrocyte precursors, mixed colony-forming cells and granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming cells. RT-PCR analysis revealed the molecular consistence of transcription factors and hematopoietic markers with cellular event. In conclusion, MES-1 established from C57BL/6 mice was able to differentiate in vitro to a variety of hematopoietic precursors, thus could partly recapitulate embryonic hematopoiesis.
Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Embryo, Mammalian ; cytology ; Erythroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Erythroid Precursor Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Erythroid-Specific DNA-Binding Factors ; Gene Expression ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Time Factors ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; genetics

OBJECTIVESTo investigate relationship between iron deficiency of different degrees and physical performance and habitual activity of migrant schoolchildren at the age of 11-14 years.

METHODSNinety one randomly selected schoolchildren were divided into three groups according to their iron status. Iron status including hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), serum iron (SI) and sTfR was determined. Physical performance tests included maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) and maximum work time. Energy expenditure (EE) and daily physical activity were estimated by recording 24-h heart rate (HR). Dietary intake was assessed with frequency questionnaires, and physical activity level was estimated with frequency and physical activity questionnaires.

RESULTSSevere iron deficiency (IDA) impaired the aerobic capacity and habitual physical activity. When fat-free mass (FFM) was considered, VO2max (VO2max/FFM) was significantly lower in the iron-marginal group than in the iron-adequate groups among girls (P = 0.02), but such a deference was not found among boys (P = 0.28). Aerobic activity and EE at leisure were significantly lower in the severe iron deficient group than in the marginal iron deficient and iron adequate groups. Net HR at leisure time was correlated with Hb, log SF, body weight, and FFM (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe functional effect of iron deficiency on physical performance and habitual physical activity rely on the degree of current iron deficiency. Severe iron deficiency significantly impairs both aerobic capacity and habitual physical activity. Iron-marginal deficiency impairs VO2max/FFM in girls, rather than in boys.

Adolescent ; Body Composition ; Body Size ; Child ; China ; Female ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Iron ; blood ; deficiency ; Leisure Activities ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Physical Fitness ; physiology ; Schools ; Suburban Population ; Time Factors ; Transients and Migrants

OBJECTIVE: To develop a specific quality of life (QOL) scale for Chinese patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: The scale was developed with the programmed decision methods. The item pool was certified by experts. Five methods were used in item selection after a pilot study for which 256 BPH patients had been recruited. The scale was evaluated by its reliability and validity. RESULTS: We formed a 27-item quality of life scale specific for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia prior test version (BPHSQL). The test-retest correlation coefficient and Cronbach's alpha coefficient of BPHSQL were 0. 774 and 0. 945. The structure of the scale was similar to the theory construction. The scale's correlation coefficients with criteria ranged from 0.531 to 0.700. BPHSQL could well discriminate the quality of life between BPH and non-BPH patients as well as patients with different degrees of symptoms, different sources and patients with or without urethral catheters. CONCLUSION BPHSQL is reliable, valid and sensitive, and will be a convenient tool in clinical research to provide advice on different treatments for different patients.
Adult ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; psychology ; Psychometrics ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; standards

The principle of total mesorectal excision (TME) standardizes the resection range and surgical dissection plane in radical rectal cancer surgery, reduces the local recurrence rate and improves the long-term survival. TME is the "gold standard" in radical rectal cancer surgery. However, with the progress of laparoscopic surgical instruments and techniques in recent years, further understanding of pelvic membrane anatomy and autonomic nervous system has been gained, which makes the surgical plane of TME more accurate and the autonomic nervous system better preserved. According to anatomical discovery and histological confirmation, there is a fascia between the mesorectal fascia and pelvic parietal fascia, called pre-hypogastric nerve sheath, in which autonomic nervous system courses, including the superior hypogastric plexus, left and right hypogastric nerves, pelvic plexus and the neurovascular bundles, from the abdominal to the pelvic cavity behind the mesorectal fascia. It fuses with the end of the mesorectum at the superior border of musculi puborectalis, and goes around the mesorectum to join with Denonvillier fascia. On the basis of anatomical studies and empirical anatomical observations, we put forward the concept of network preservation of the autonomic nervous system: the main trunk as well as the nerve branches of the pelvic autonomic nervous system and accompanying blood vessels should be preserved to ensure the integrity of the nerve reflex arc. The concept allows the radical resection of rectal cancer to follow the principle of TME, and meanwhile, protect patient's urination function and sexual function to the greatest extent, improving the quality of life of patients after surgery.
Autonomic Nervous System ; Humans ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pelvis ; Quality of Life ; Rectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Rectum