The multilateral trading system embodied in the World Trade Organization has contributed significantly to economic growth, development and employment throughout the past fifty years. We are determined, particularly in the light of the global economic slowdown, to maintain the process of reform and liberalization of trade policies, thus ensuring that the system plays its full part in promoting recovery, growth, and development. The negotiations on trade in services shall be conducted with a view to promoting the economic growth of all trading partners and the development of developing and least-developed countries. The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) is among the World Trade Organization's most important agreements. The accord, which came into force in January 1995, is the first and only set of multilateral rules covering international trade in services. Ig has been negotiated by the Governments themselves, and it sets the framework within which firms and individuals can operate. The GATS has two part: the framework agreement containing the general rules and disciplines ; and the notional "schedules" which list individual countries' specific commitments on access to their domestic markets by foreign suppliers. Each WTO Member lists in its national schedule those services for which it wishes to guarantee access to foreign suppliers. All commitments apply on a non-discriminatory basis to all other Members. There is complete freedom to choose which services to commit. In addition to the services committed, the schedules limit the degree to which foreign services providers can operate in the market. For example, a country making a commitment to allow foreign banks to operate in its territory may limit the number of banking licenses to be granted (a market access limitation). It might also fix a limit on the number of branches a foreign bank may open (a national treatment limitation). The GATS covers all internationally-traded services with two exception : services provided to the public in the exercise of governmental authority, and , in the air transport sector, traffic rights and all services directly related to the exercise of traffic rights and all services directly related to the exercise of traffic rights. The GATS also defines four ways in which a service can be traded, known as "modes of supply" Services supplied from one country to another (e.g international telephone calls), officially known as "cross-border supply"; Consumers from one country making use of a service in another country(e.g tourism), officially known as "consumption abroad"; A company from ton country setting up subsidiaries or branches to provide services in another country (e.g a bank from one country setting up operations in another country), officially known as "commercial presence" ; and Individuals travelling from their own country to supply services in another (e.g an actress or construction worker), officially known as "movement of natural persons". Trade liberalization, and even economic growth, are not the ends in themselves. The ultimate aim of Government is to promote human welfare in the broadest sense, and trade policy is only one of many instruments Governments use in pursuing this goal. But trade policy is nevertheless very important, both in promoting growth and in preventing conflict. The building of the multilateral trading system over teh past 50 years has been one of the most remarkable achievements of international cooperation in history. The system is certainly imperfect, which is one of the reasons why periodic negotiations are necessary, but the world would be a far poorer and more dangerous place without it. In January 2000, WTO Member Governments started a new round of negotiations to promote the progressive liberalization of trade in services. The GATS agreement specifically states that the negotiations "shall take place with a view to promoting the interests of all participants on a mutually advantageous basis" and "with due respect for national policy objectives and the level of development of individual Members". The pace and extent of these negotiations are set by the WTO's 140 Member Goverments themselves according to their different national policy priorities. Recently, however, the negotiations and the GATS itself have become the subject of ill-informed and hostile criticism. Scare stories are invented and unquestioningly repeated, however implausible. It is claimed for example that the right to maintain public services and the power to enforce health and safty standards are under threat, though both are explicitly safeguarded under the GATS. How have serious people come to believe what is, on the face of it, out of the question? Why should any Government, let alone 140 Governments, agrees to allow themselves to be forced, or force each toher, to surrender of compromise powers which are important to them, and to all of us? Decision-making in open societies presupposes informed public discussion. It must be based on fact rather than fiction. The purpose of this booklet is to contribute to this discussion and to a greater public understanding of the GATS by correcting statements made in some recent publication which we believe are misleading the public and undermining support for international economic cooperation. It must not be assumed that becuase we have disputed some allegations we accept that others are well-founded: these are merely examples.
Appointments and Schedules ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Economic Development ; Employment ; Financing, Organized ; Freedom ; Humans ; International Cooperation ; Licensure ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Negotiating* ; Pamphlets ; Publications ; Telephone

Child ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; toxicity ; Ganglion Cysts ; pathology ; Humans ; Leigh Disease ; chemically induced ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Sophora ; toxicity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo study coronary artery stenosis, myocardial ischemia, and left ventricular dysfunction in dual source computed tomography (DSCT) coronary artery angiography.

METHODSTotally 32 patients underwent both DSCT and X-ray coronary angiography within one week to detect coronary artery stenosis separately. Meanwhile, the values of left ventricular myocardial mass (LVMM) , left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) , and left ventricular stroke volume (LVSV) were calculated using cardiac function software in DSCT. Electrocardiography was carried out to diagnose myocardial ischemia. The coronary artery stenosis, values of LVMM, LVEF, and LVSV, and myocardial ischemia were compared.

RESULTSThe results of DSCT and X-ray coronary angiography were not significantly different. LVMM, LVEF, LVSV, and myocardial ischemia were significantly different between two- or three-branch groups or between middle or severe groups (both P<0.05) . However, no such significant difference was observed between single and two branch groups and between mild and middle groups. There were no statistically different findings for LVEF and LVSV, but there was statistical deference between LVMM and myocardial ischemia (P<0.05) . For single branch and middle to severe stenosis in left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, right coronary artery, left circumflex coronary artery, only the values of LVMM,LVEF,and LVSV in LAD group showed significant difference (P<0.05) .

CONCLUSIONSMore stenotic branches and severer stenosis in coronary artery often are associated with higher incidence of myocardial ischemia and severer left ventricular dysfunction. The stenosis of LAD coronary artery has especially severe impact on cardiac functions. LVMM is a sensitive indicator for myocardial ischemia in coronary artery stenosis.

Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Coronary Stenosis ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Ischemia ; etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and mechanisms of diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) on morphology and function of progenitor Leydig cells (PLC) in rats.

METHODSTwenty pregnant SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups ( n = 5): normal control group, DEHP low dose group , middle dose group, and high dose group, which were treated from postnatal day (PND) 1 to PND 21 of the pubs with DEHP at the doses of 0, 10, 100, 750 mg/(kg · d) in 0.5 ml of corn oil by gavage respectively. At the end of the treatment, the male pups were killed and blood samples were collected for determination of serum testosterone concentration by chemiluminescence method. The body weight, testis weight and anogenital distance (AGD) were measured. The morphology of PLC was observed by light and transmission electron microscopy. The protein expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein(StAR) in PLC was determined by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in the testis was assayed by real-time PCR.

RESULTSCompared with normal control group, the serum testosterone and AGD of male pubs from the middle and high dose groups were declined significantly (P < 0.01), the testis weight and body weight from high dose group were decreased significantly (P < 0.01), while the testis weight increased in the low dose group (P < 0.05). Under light microscope, PLC showed hyperplasia and cluster aggregation in the low dose group and focal hyperplasia in the middle and high dose group. The spermatogenic cells in seminiferous tubules showed decrease, apoptosis and unfix in the high dose group. Under transmission electron microscope, the PLC showed decreased lipid droplets, smooth endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondriae in the treated group. The mRNA expression of IGF-I increased in the low dose group, and the protein expression of StAR decreased in the middle and high dose group.

CONCLUSIONLactating exposure to DEHP may interfere with the synthesis of testosterone of PLC in male pubs, the decrease of StAR and the damage of PLC may be involved in it.

Animals ; Body Weight ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; adverse effects ; Female ; Germ Cells ; drug effects ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Lactation ; Leydig Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Organ Size ; Phosphoproteins ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Testis ; Testosterone ; blood

Objective To examine the possibility that a candidate causal species of the skin and lung tumor promotion induced by exposure to dimethylarsinic acid(DMAv)and dimethylarsinous acid(DMAⅢ),caused by the induction of oxidative stress in mice.Methods Two stages lung tumotigensis animal model induced by lung tumor initiator(4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide,4NQO)and promoter(DMAv)in ddY mice,was used to examine the effect of(-)epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG)on DMAv promoting lung tumorigenesis.Two stages skin tumorigenesis animal model induced by skin tumor initiator[dimethylbenz(α)anthracene,DMBA]and promoter(DMAⅢ)in hairless mice.was used to examine the effects of DMAⅢ in skin tumorigenesis and histopathology.The goxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG)in lung and epidermis were analyzed by HPLC.Results The incidence of lung tumors and 8-oxodG level of lung tissue decreased significantly in 4NQO+DMAv+EGCG group.compared with 4NQO+DMAv group (0.89±0.30 vs 4.00±0.82,1.21±0.09 vs 1.53±0.32,P＜0.01).The incidence of severe keratosis in DMBA+ DMIⅢ group was more than that in DMBA group(25 vs 10,P＜0.05).An significant elevation of 8-oxodG in epidermis was observed in 0.5 h[(1.67±0.17)/105 dG],1.0 h[(1.62±012)/105 dG],2.0 h[(1.66±023)/105dG], 3.0 h[(1.60±0.15)/105 dG],compared with 0 h[(1.25±0.11)/105 dG],being significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion tumor promotion due to DMAv administration is mediated by DMAⅢ through the induction of oxidative stress.

To determine the role of vagi in heart rate variability, conscious rabbits were employed and electrocardiogram was recorded under conditions of bilateral vagi intact, unilateral vagotomy, and bilateral vagotomy. The variability of RR intervals (RRI) was analyzed using power spectrum and approximate entropy (ApEn). The results showed that the values of high frequency power (HF) component, low frequency power (LF) component and ApEn in animals with bilateral vagi intact were the highest, but the LF/HF ratio was the lowest; unilateral vagotomy decreased ApEn, right vagotomy increased LF/HF ratio but left vagotomy did not; the LF/HF ratio increased while ApEn decreased significantly in animals with bilateral vagotomy. It is suggested that the variability of RRI is mainly regulated by the vagi and the role of right vagi is more important than that of the left. When measuring heart rate variability, the results obtained with conventional method are consistent with those with nonlinear method.
Animals ; Entropy ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Male ; Rabbits ; Vagus Nerve ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo assay salidroside and p-tyrosol in Hongjingtian for injection (freezing-dry).

METHODSamples were purified by Sep-Pak C18 column and salidroside and p-tyrosol were determined by HPLC with Irregular-H C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm), and eluted with a mobile phase of methanol-acenitonitrile -0.06% phosphate (10: 10:80). The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1), the detection wavelength was set at 275 nm and the column temperature was maintained at 30 degrees C.

RESULTThe calibration curves were linear in the range of 2.24-22.4 microg for salidroside (0.999 7) and 0.856-8.56 microg for p-tyrosol (0.999 6), the average recovery was 101.3%, 99.8% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe method is convenient, rapid, accurate and reliable.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Injections ; Phenols ; analysis ; Phenylethyl Alcohol ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhodiola ; chemistry ; Temperature

This study was purpose to examine the effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and Tween 80 on the growth and viability of stromal cells (BMSC), colony-forming units for granulocytes and macrophages (CFU-GM) and bone marrow endothelial cell line (BMEC) from murine bone marrow in vitro, and to analyze the concentration-effect relationship. The colony yields of colony-forming units fibroblastic (CFU-F) and CFU-GM were assessed in the murine bone marrow cell cultures at various concentrations of DMSO or Tween 80 and in the control groups. The MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion were used to determine the cell viability and percentage of survival in BMSC and BMEC cultures with or without either of these organic solvents. The results showed that the colony yields of both CFU-F and CFU-GM were decreased significantly (p<0.05 or <0.01) at the concentrations (v/v final) of 2% DMSO or 0.005%-0.01% Tween 80 respectively, as compared with control. The cell viability and percentage of survival of BMSC and BMEC cultures were significantly reduced (p<0.05 or <0.01) at 0.5%-1.0% DMSO or 0.002%-0.005% Tween 80, as compared with control. With the increase of volume fractions of these solvents, the decreased percentages of corresponding measurements were increased by degrees. It is concluded that when the concentration of DMSO or Tween 80 goes to a certain level in cell culture medium, either of the organic solvents has an inhibitory action or/and cytotoxicity on the growth and viability of BMSCs, CFU-GM and BMECs. The growth inhibition and cytotoxic response are more significant at higher concentrations of these solvents.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Polysorbates ; pharmacology ; Solvents ; pharmacology ; Stromal Cells ; cytology

Atrial Fibrillation/epidemiology* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism/epidemiology* ; Thromboembolism/etiology*

BACKGROUNDAccurate evaluation of response following chemotherapy treatment is essential for surgical decision making in patients with breast cancer. Modalities that have been used to monitor response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) include physical examination (PE), ultrasound (US), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of PE, US, and MRI in predicting the response to NAC in patients with breast cancer.

METHODSAccording to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors guidelines, the largest unidimensional measurement of the tumor diameter evaluated by PE, US, and MRI before and after NAC was classified into four grades, including clinical complete response, clinical partial response, clinical progressive disease, clinical stable disease, and compared with the final histopathological examination.

RESULTSOf the 64 patients who received NAC, the pathologic complete response (pCR) was shown in 13 of 64 patients (20%). The sensitivity of PE, US, and MRI in predicting the major pathologic response was 73%, 75%, and 80%, respectively, and the specificity was 45%, 50%, and 50% respectively. For predicting a pCR, the sensitivity of PE, US, and MRI was 46%, 46%, and 39%, respectively, and the specificity was 65%, 98%, and 92% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSCompared with final pathologic findings, all these three clinical and imaging modalities tended to obviously underestimate the pCR rate. A more appropriate, universal, and practical standard by clinical and imaging modalities in predicting the response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in vivo is essential.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Physical Examination ; Ultrasonography