Based on the organization and implementation of the comprehensive reform of countylevel public hospitals in 15 provinces (municipalities)in southern China,the research discussed the progress and problems of such reforr.The progress made and areas of the reform vary among provinces and municipalities.For example,the reform has completely covered all the counties in four provinces such as Zhejiang and Jiangsu province.Medicine markups have been canceled in all the pilot counties by adjusting the service prices to pave the way for hospital compensation.Contemporary hospital management,remuneration system and personnel system reform are also main targets of the reform,while the collaboration between superiors and subordinates,and hospital regulatory system have recently been included.Problems are also found with the current reform:for example,lack of attention for the system reform,no fundamental changes in place in the business orientation of hospitals,as well as problems in collaboration among departments,and hospital debts.

Objective To investigate the association between arsenic(+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (AS3MT) genetic polymorphism and susceptibility to endemic arsenism.Methods Polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism-single strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-RFLP-SSCP) technology was performed to detect mutations of AS3MT gene intron 8 and exon 9 in genome DNA of the 79 cases and 110 controls.PCR products with abnormal band forms were further sequenced to find the types and sites of mutation.Chi-square test and multivariate Logistic analyses were conducted.Results The incidence of the 9149 base mutation(A→C) in AS3MT gene intron 8(AS3MT-9149) in case group(19.0％,15/79) was lower than that in control group (23.6％,26/110).The incidence of the codon 287 mutation(ATG→AT/CG) in AS3MT gene exon 9(AS3MT-287)in case group(10.1％,8/79) was lower than that in control group (11.8％,13/110).However,statistical analysis indicated no significant difference in both mutations between two groups[AS3MT-9149:odds ratio(OR) =0.59,95％ confidence interval(CI):0.26-1.31,P =0.195; AS3MT-287:OR =0.85,95％ CI:0.32-230,P =0.751].Conclusions There are no significant association between the genetic polymorphisms of AS3MT-9149,AS3MT-287 and the susceptibility to endemic arsenism.Similarly,due to small sample amount,we can not exclude the possibility that these gene polymorphisms are related to susceptibility to endemic arsenism.

Lactose was shown to no less competent than Isopropyl-?-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) in inducing the expression of the ENHANCIN coding gene from Helicoverpa armigera granulosis virus in Eswcherichia coli BL21 (DE3) regulated by a T7 promoter, since the lactose induction could lead to an ENHANCIN band no smaller than the one in IPTG induction on the SDS-PAGE gel. This would decrease the cost of the large-scale ENHANCIN production. The lactose concentration was optimized at 2.2% - 2.5% (w/v) . Different treatments on the lactose sterilization showed that lactose steam- sterilized in 116. 5℃ for 15min could lead to the ENHANCIN production. The convenience and the relatively low cost in its" operation could further decrease the cost of the ENHANCIN production.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of acupuncture on the immune function of sepsis patients.

METHODSNinety sepsis patients were assigned to the control group, the thymosin a1 group, and the acupuncture treatment group according to random digit table, 30 patients in each group. Patients in the control group were treated according to the guideline of Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC). Patients in the control group received routine treatment. Those in the thymosin alpha1 group additionally received subdermal injection of thymosin alpha1 (1.6 mg), once per day for 6 successive days. Needling at related points such as Zusanli (ST36), Yanglingquan (GB34), Neiguan (PC6), Guanyuan (RN4), and so on, was performed in patients of the acupuncture treatment group, once per day for 6 successive days. T cell subgroups (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+ /CD8+) and immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgM) were detected. The length of ICU hospital stay, hospital readmission rate, and 28-day mortality were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSAfter six days of treatment, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, IgG, IgA, IgM, and CD4+ /CD8+ ratio of three groups were all significantly increased (P < 0.01). Of them, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, IgG, IgA, and IgM increased more significantly in the thymosin alpha1 group and the acupuncture treatment group (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the ICU hospitalization length was significantly shortened, the hospital readmission rate and the 28-day mortality were lower in the thymosin alpha1 group and the acupuncture treatment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in each index between the thymosin alpha1 group and the acupuncture treatment group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture could adjust the immune function of sepsis patients, improve their immunological indicators and prognoses.

Acupuncture Therapy ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Prognosis ; Sepsis ; diagnosis ; immunology ; therapy ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; Thymosin ; analogs & derivatives

Objective To investigate the correlation factors for hot flashes in climacteric women so as to improve their quality of life. Methods A questionnaire was distributed among 792 climacteric women. The questionnaire items included general information, characteristics of menstruation, reproduction history, information of hot flashes, lifestyle and sexual life. Weight, height, blood pressure, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Logistic regression analysis was made to find out the correlation factors for hot flashes. Results Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, education, income, present characteristics of menstruation, dietary habit, soy products intake, physical exercise, satisfaction of sexual life, body mass index (BMI) and systolic blood pressure were significantly associated with hot flashes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that irregular menstruation or menopause, frequent exercise and higher systolic blood pressure were risk factors for hot flashes in climacteric women. However, higher education, soy products intake and satisfaction of sexual life were protection factors. Conclusion Guiding climacteric women to take moderate physical exercise, knowing more about climacterium, consuming more soy products and controlling diastolic blood pressure are likely to decrease the incidence of hot flashes.

Objective To investigate the three-dimensional structure of normal male canine prostat- ic duct and acinus system,and to study the mechanism of intraprostatic urinary reflux(IPUR)resulting from high pressure of the posterior urethra by experiment.Methods Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)and corrosion casting methods,high pressure of the prostatic urethra was produced based upon IPUR in normal male canines.Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene(ABS)casting solution was injected into 8 Beagle canines'normal prostates to induce intraprostatie resin solution reflux.Results Six casting molds of nor- real canine prostate specimens were obtained,and the casting failed in 2.By corrosion and casting treatment, the prostate appeared to consist of several glandular lobes.The columnar apophyses of glandular surface were observed.The most glandular ducts pointed outward from urethral peristome.Each glandular duct system was made up of many bifurcated branches from the bough as a duct tree.More than 90% of the bifurcations were Y-shaped,and 6 bifurcated branches were rarely seen.The tip of the duct was vesicular.The diameter and length of the bough were(0.37?0.14)mm and(1.14?0.04)mm,respectively.The intersectional angle of urethra and peripheral glandular duct was the biggest.Peripheral glandular duct was perpendicular or con- verse to urinary flow.Peripheral glandular aeinus appeared elliptic and velvet.The mesh-like and crater-like depressions were shown on the surface of central glandular aeinus.Ejaculatory ducts independently and branchlessly entered the urethra.Conclusions The resin corrosion casting methods combined with SEM can clearly show the three-dimensional structure of normal male canine prostatic duct and acinus system. IPUR may easily occur in the peripheral glands from the morphological view.It is suggested that prostatitis occurs more commonly in peripheral glands,confirming a fact that high pressure of the posterior urethra can induce IPUR.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of acupuncture on acute heart failure (AHF) patients.

METHODSTotally 60 patients who were diagnosed as AHF were assigned to the acupuncture group and the control group, 30 in each group. Those in the control group received inotropic agents, preload and afterload reducing therapy, anti-infection and so on. Besides, those in the acupuncture group received needling at relative points, once daily for 5 consecutive days. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SI), left ventricle working index (LCWI) were monitored by thermodilution pulse-indicated continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) technique. Changes of the aforesaid data were compared between before and after treatment. The ICU length of stay, readmission rate,and the 28-day mortality were also compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter 5 days of the treatment, CI, SI, and LCWI increased more obviously (P < 0.01), HR and MAP decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Of them, CI, SI, and LCWI increased more obviously in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05).There was no obvious difference in HR or MAP between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the first day of admission in the same group, CI, SI, and LCWI obviously increased in the acupuncture group from the second day (P < 0.05). HR started to decrease since the fourth day (P < 0.05), and MAP began to decrease until the fifth day (P < 0.05). CI, SI, and LCWI started to increase in the control group from the third day (P < 0.05); HR and MAP both began to decrease since the fifth day (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the ICU length of stay was obviously shortened in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The readmission rate and the 28-day mortality rate were lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combination of acupuncture and Western medical therapy might strengthen acute heart failure patients' heart functions, elevate the therapeutic effect, and improve the prognosis.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Heart Failure ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke Volume

Connexin43 has been shown to play a pivotal role in wound healing process. Wound repair is enhanced by acute downregulation of connexin43, by increasing proliferation and migration of keratinocyte and fibroblast. Angiogenesis is also a central feature of wound repair, but little is known about the effects of connexin43 modulation on functions of endothelial cells. We used connexin43 specific small interference RNA (siRNA) to reduce the expression of connexin43 in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC), and investigated the effects of connexin43 downregulation on intercellular communication, viability, proliferation, migration and angiogenic activity of HUVEC. Treatment of siRNA markedly reduced the expression of connexin43 by -80% in HUVEC (P < 0.05), and decreased the intercellular communication by -65% (P < 0.05). The viability, proliferation, migration and angiogenic activity of HUVEC decreased significantly (P < 0.05), compared with that of the normal cells. The results suggest that temporally downregulation of connexin43 expression at early stage of wound to inhibit the abnormal angiogenesis characterized with leaky and inflamed blood vessels, maybe a prerequisite for coordinated normal healing process.
Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVESince glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common hereditary hemolytic erythrocyte enzyme deficiency, most cases have single nucleotide mutations in the coding region, and current test methods for gene mutation have some missed detections, this study aimed to investigate the feasibility of RT-PCR sequencing in the detection of gene mutation in G6PD deficiency.

METHODSAccording to the G6PD/6GPD ratio, 195 children with anemia of unknown cause or who underwent physical examination between August 2013 and July 2014 were classified into G6PD-deficiency group with 130 children (G6PD/6GPD ratio <1.00) and control group with 65 children (G6PD/6GPD ratio≥1.00). The primer design and PCR amplification conditions were optimized, and RT-PCR sequencing was used to analyze the complete coding sequence and verify the genomic DNA sequence in the two groups.

RESULTSIn the G6PD-deficiency group, the detection rate of gene mutation was 100% and 13 missense mutations were detected, including one new mutation. In the control group, no missense mutation was detected in 28 boys; 13 heterozygous missense mutations, 1 homozygous same-sense mutation (C1191T) which had not been reported in China and abroad, and 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms of C1311T were detected in 37 girls. The control group showed a high rate of missed detection of G6PD deficiency (carriers) in the specimens from girls (35%, 13/37).

CONCLUSIONSRT-PCR sequencing has a high detection rate of G6PD gene mutation and a certain value in clinical diagnosis of G6PD deficiency.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Objective To discuss the key technique of ultrasound-guided biopsy in superficial lymph nodes,and to explore the value of ultrasound in qualitative diagnosis for the lymph nodes.Methods Three hundred and twenty-five patients who underwent ultrasound-guided lymph node biopsy from Jan 2006 to Jan 2009 were retrospectively reviewed.Results The sizes of the lymph nodes were 0.8 cm×1.0 cm-5.0 cm×7.0 cm.Each patient was punctured 3 to 6 times.Pathological results showed lymph nodes in 230 patients (70.77%) were malignant,including metastatic carcinoma in 134 patients,malignant lymphoma in 96 patients,while lymph nodes in 87 patients (26.77%) were benign,including specific infection in 82 patients,non-specific infection in 5 patients,whereas uncertain in 8 patients (2.46%) .The tissue amount got from biopsies could be used for qualitative pathological diagnosis in 317 patients (97.54%) .Taking lymph node with the ratio of long diameter to short diameter less than 2,unclear medulla structure,multi-vessel and arterial resistance index≥0.65 as the standard,the diagnostic accuracy rate of malignant lesions was 76.41%.Conclusion Ultrasound-guided biopsy of superficial lymph nodes is convenient and effective for pathological diagnosis.