Aim To establish a rat aortic calcification sub-chronic model induced by vitamin D3 and nicotine.Methods The vascular calcification model was produced by vitamin D3(300 kIU?kg-1,im) plus nicotine(25 mg?kg-1,5 ml?kg-1,po).Rat body weight and blood pressure were monitored on a regular basis.Ratio of heart to body weight,plasma calcium,plasma phosphate content,vascular calcium content,Von Kossa staining,activity of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and 45Ca deposition in aorta were measured as the index of calcification at the 8th and the 16th week.Results Compared with control group,the VDN group rats showed higher values of blood pressure from the 3rd week(all P

DNA transposon is a kind of factor that is able to translocate gene in its genome, thus offering an efficient method for permanently modifying the genome of mammals. The piggyBac (PB) transposon system has been proven effective in mammalian genomic engineering, including cancer gene discovery, animal transgenesis, in vivo gene delivery as well as in vitro genetic modification like induced pluripotent stem cells. In addition, piggyBac has many desirable features, such as seamless excision of transposons from the genomic DNA and the potential to target integration events to desired DNA sequences. Therefore, the piggyBac translocation system is an ideal genetic tool in the construction of animal models and gene therapy, and we can anticipate that the piggyBac transposon system will play a more and more important role in biomedical research.

Objective To evaluate the feeding effect of semi-demand feeding and abdominal massage on the feeding process, feeding performances and clinical safety (including the time of returning to birth weight, feeding tolerance, apnea). Methods A total of 120 preterm infants that met inclusion criteria of the study were randomly assigned to three groups, and each group had 40 cases. Control group:received standard feeding care. Semi-demand feeding group: received 5-10 minutes of oral motor intervention every time before feeding(including oral stimulation and non nutritional sucking), then decided feeding methods according to its consciousness behavior state. Semi-demand feeding combined abdominal massage group: received both semi-demand feeding and abdominal massage before feeding. Observed and recorded the three groups′ transition time, whether there were statistically significant differences in feeding performance and clinical safety. Results The feeding transition time was (11.55± 4.69), (10.98±3.85), (8.50±3.87)d in control group, semi-demand feeding group and semi-demand feeding combined abdominal massage group, and there were significant differences (F=6.088, P=0.003). In terms of feeding performance, the feeding efficiency were (7.27 ± 2.65), (9.74 ± 2.63), (9.52 ± 2.13) ml/min, the feeding proficiency were (66.31 ± 14.51)%, (76.64 ± 12.46)%, (82.26 ± 10.65)%, the volume transfer were (63.99 ± 11.02)%, (80.16 ± 14.41)%, (84.97 ± 11.16)% in control group, semi-demand feeding group and semi-demand feeding combined abdominal massage group, and there were significant differences (F=12.189, 16.383, 31.959, all P < 0.01).Among the clinical safety, the time of restoration of birth weight were (10.55 ± 1.99), (9.28 ± 1.77), (10.05 ± 2.46) d in control group, semi-demand feeding group and semi-demand feeding combined abdominal massage group, and there were significant differences(F=3.759, P=0.026). The incidence of feeding intolerance were 50.0%(20/40), 40.0%(16/40), 22.5%(9/40), and there were significant differences(χ2=6.613, P=0.037). The incidence of apnea were 37.5%(15/40), 20.0%(8/40), 15.0%(6/40), and there were significant differences(χ2=6.093, P=0.048). Conclusions The combined intervention methods could accelerate the feeding process, improve feeding performance as well as reduce the incidence of feeding intolerance and apnea. Hence, semi-demand feeding combined abdominal massage is a recommended choice for clinical use.

A series of andrographolide derivatives with the structure of 12-N-substituted-14-deoxyandrographolide were synthesized from the parent compound andrographolide.Their antitumor activities were preliminarily evaluated on various cancer cell lines and compound 4d stood out due to its potent growth inhibitory effect in comparison with andrographolide.Compound 4d also demonstrated significant antitumor effect on human hepatoma HepG2cells in vitro and on sarcoma 180 (S180) and hepatoma 22(H22)-bearing mice in vivo.Then,the apoptosis induced by compound 4d in HepG2cells was detected by Annexin V/PI double staining assay.Further mechanic study showed that the expression of p53 and Bax was significantly elevated and that of Bcl-2was downregulated in 4d-treated HepG2cells.Collectively,these data suggested that compound 4d had remarkable antitumor effect both in vitro and in vivo and could effectively induce apoptosis via a p53-dependent pathway in HepG2 cells,thus deserving further investigation.

ObjectiveTo study the relationship between condom use and sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence among men who have sex with men (MSM) in 9 cities in China.MethodsA sectional survey was carried out by using targeted sampling method (snowball sampling) in MSM who often consumed at bars in 9 cities in China,including Harbin,Shenyang,Xi'an,Zhengzhou,Nanjing,Shanghai,Wuhan,Chengdu and Chongqing.The survey respondents were required to complete an anonymous questionnaire,and blood samples were obtained from them.Data were analyzed by SPSS 13.0 software.ResultsOverall,2250 respondents were included in this survey.Most MSM recognized that condom use could prevent STI,and no significant difference was observed in the percentage of MSM who had the recognition between MSM with STI and MSM without STI (P ＞ 0.05).The incidence of STI was statistically lower in MSM who used condom during sexual intercourse than those who never used ( 17.2％ vs.24.5％,P ＜ 0.05 ),Iower in MSM who used condom at every time of anal intercourse in the last 6 months than those who used condom not at every time or never used condom (14.2％vs.19.3％,P ＜ 0.01 ).The respondents who thought that the insistence on using condom would make the partner suspicious that they suffered from STI showed a higher incidence of STI(34.0％) compared with those who believed that they just had one partner(16.6％,P ＜ 0.05 ),those who thought that condom use was detrimental to their close relationship (16.1％,P ＜ 0.05),and those who thought condom use was unnecessary (11.5％,P ＜0.01 ).ConclusionsCondom use is definitely beneficial to the prevention of transmission of STI/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).MSM who use condom at every time are associated with a lower incidence of STI,while those who think that the insistence on using condom will make their partners suspicious that they suffer from STI are associated with a high incidence of STI.

Objective To investigate the sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) of Chinese boys. Methods 299 healthy boys aged 5-12 years were measured with SNIP. Their height, weight, and age were recorded. Results The SNIP averaged (76.9±22.6) cmH2O, and was (59.1±14.2) cmH2O, (76.9±19.5) cmH2O, (85.3±23.5) cmH2O and (83.0±22.6) cmH2O in the boys of 5-6 years old, 7-8 years old, 9-10 years old and 11-12 years old, respectively. It was significantly different among boys of 5-6 years old, 7-8 years old and 9-10 years old (P<0.05), but no significant difference between 9-10 years old and 11-12 years old (P=0.55). Regression analysis indicated significant relations of SNIP with age, height, weight and Body Mass Index (P<0.01). Conclusion The SNIP of Chinese healthy boys are different from abroad. It is necessary to establish the Chinese children SNIP reference range.

Objective To investigate the protective effects of Dextran-40 on fatal jellyfish stings at whole animal and cellular levels.MethodsFirstly, using the fatal jellyfish envenomation syndrome (acute jellyfish envenomation syndrome, AJES and delayed jellyfish envenomation syndrome, DJES) models established earlier by ourselves, we surveyed the effects of Dextran-40 on the survival rate of AJES mice, on the circulatory function of AJES rats and on the serum biochemical indexes of DJES rats.In addition, the protective effects of Dextran-40 on cardiomyocytes against the damage induced by tentacle extract (TE) from the jellyfish Cyanea capillata were studied at the cellular level by laser scanning confocal microscopy.ResultsAt the whole animal level, Dextran-40 at 0.8g/kg significantly improved the survival rate of AJES mice, and at 0.6g/kg greatly inhibited the drop of blood pressure of AJES rats.For the DJES rats, Dextran-40 at 0.6g/kg had a significant protective effect on the liver function indexes (ALT, AST, A/G) and myocardial enzymes (CK, LDH).At the cellular level, Dextran-40 5μg/mL greatly inhibited the TE-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ content and the death of cardiomyocytes.ConclusionThe protective effects of Dextran-40 on fatal jellyfish stings may be related to its ability to stabilize blood pressure or block the TE-induced pore formation in the cardiomyocytes.Considering that the clinical safety of Dextran-40, we strongly recommend it as a first-aid medicine for jellyfish stings.

The operating room is the main place of surgery,but there exist many ethical problems when developing quality nursing service in operating rooms.These problems mainly related to the imperfect preoperative and postoperative visit systems,the lack of effective communication and protection of patients privacy during the operations,and the lack of self-discipline spirit.To solve these problems,we should improve the preoperative and postoperative visit system,strengthen the psychological counseling for patients,cultivate the nurses' self-discipline spirit,respect and protect the privacy of patients,so as to improve the quality of nursing service in the operation rooms,and better service for patients.

ObjectiveTo evaluate digital chrome endoscopy (I-Scan) and confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) for diagnosis of Barrett esophagus (BE).MethodsFrom July 2010 to July 2011,a total of 878 outpatients who had upper gastrointestinal symptoms underwent routine endoscopy and I-Scan examination,screened patients with suspected Barrett's epithelial were further referred to CLE and endoscopy.The detection rate and image features of BE between routine endoscopy and I-Scan,and the diagnosis of BE between pathology and CLE,were compared respectively.ResultsSuspected BE was diagnosed in 46 patients (5.2％) by routine endoscopy,and in52 (5.9％) by I-Scan,and there was no significant difference in detection rate between 2 methods (x2 =0.533,P ＞ 0.05 ).The detection rate of paliform blood vessels between SCJ and GEJ was higher using I-Scan (35/52,67.3％ ) than routine endoscope (21/46,45.7％,P ＜0.05).A total of 19 suspected BE underwent CLE and biopsy,and BE was diagnosed by CLE with a sensitivity of 93％ and a specificity of 100％.ConclusionI-Scan is capable of identifying paliform blood vessels between SCJ and GEJ,and can improve the detection rate of suspected BE.CLE is able to provide in-vivo histological diagnosis of BE with a high sensitivity and specificity.

Objective To study the influence of the combined administration of Bletilla striata and Radix aconiti preparata with different doses or ratios on anhydrous ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in mice with gastric ulcer. Methods The uniform design method was adopted on the basis of two factors and seven levels, which aims to investigate the influence of combined oral administration of Bletilla striata and Radix aconiti preparata with different doses or ratios on gastric mucosal injury in the mice with gastric ulcer. The indices like gastric ulcer index and stomach mucosa damage index were used to help selecting the right dose or ratio of decoctions for further study. Results The combined administration of Bletilla striata and Radix aconiti preparata at a certain proportion could reduce gastric ulcer index and stomach mucosa damage index. According to the regression analysis, the gastric ulcer index and stomach mucosa damage index were obviously inhibited by Bletilla striata, while this function decreased with the combined administration of Bletilla striata and Radix aconiti preparata. However, an interactive effect between each other has not been found. The influence of decoctions on the gastric ulcer index and stomach mucosa damage index became less when the compatibility ratio of Radix aconiti preparata increased, which referred to the total dose ranged between 3.64 g/kg and 29.32 g/kg. Conclusions The effect of the combined administration of Bletilla striata and Radix aconiti preparata showed relationship among the doses and ratios on anhydrous ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in mice with gastric ulcer.