Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVE： To discuss the severe liver function damage induced by antituberculostics.METHODS： The severe liver function damage induced by antituberculotis was analyzed in 50 patients admitted into this hospital from January 1995 to January 2000.RESULTS： Sever liver function damage was related to the following factors:(1)history of liver diseases;(2)aged patient and malnutritional patient;(3)chronic alcoholism;(4)combined use of isoniazid,rifampin with other drugs;(5)hepatic dysfunction before treatment.CONCLUSION： The abovementioned factors should be under consideration in choice of antituberculotics.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, a new kind of oral hypoglycemic drugs, can significantly lower blood glu-cose levels in the patients with type 2 diabetes without common side effects such as body weight gain, hypoglycemia and gastrointestinal disturbances. Therefore, DPP-4 inhibitors play an increasingly important role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In this review, the re-search progress in the action mechanism, pharmacokinetics and clinical applications of DPP-4 inhibitors was summarized in order to provide reference for the clinical application.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of ambroxol on community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in elderly patients.Methods Totally 120 patients with CAP were selected and divided into 3 groups:low-dose group (patients received ambroxol 15 mg intravenously,3 times per day,n=40),conventional-dose group (patients received ambroxol 30 mg intravenously,3 times per day,n=40)and control group (patients received routine treatment including antibiotic therapy and oxygen inhalation,n=40).All patients were treated for 7 days.The levels of white blood cell (WBC),high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were determined dynamically during the treatment.Results The markedly efficient rate,efficient rate and inefficient rate were 62.5％ (25/40),15.0％ (6/40) and 22.5％ (9/40) in low-dose group,82.5％ (33/40),15.0％ (6/40) and 2.5％ (1/40) in conventional-dose group,40％ (16/40),15.0％ (6/40) and 45.0％ (18/40) in control group,respectively.The total efficient rates were 77.5％,97.5％ and 55.0％ in low dose,conventional dose and control groups,respectively.The markedly efficient rate was higher in lowdose,conventional-dose groups than in control group (x2 =15.29,P＜0.05).There was a significant difference in markedly efficient rate between low dose and conventional-dose groups (x2 =4.01,P＜ 0.05).The total efficient rate was higher in low-dose,conventional-dose groups than in control group (x2 20.22,P＜0.05).There was a significant difference in total efficient rate between low dose and conventional-dose groups (x2=7.31,P＜0.05).Compared with before treatment,the levels of WBC,hs CRP and PCT were decreased in 3 groups after treatment (all P＜0.05).The levels of WBC,hsCRP and PCT were decreased more remarkably in low dose,conventional-dose groups than in control group (all P＜0.05).There was a significant difference in the decrease of WBC,hs-CRP and PCT levels between low-dose and conventional-dose groups (all P＜0.05).Conclusions Conventional dose ambroxol treatment (30 mg,iv,3 times/d) is an efficient therapy for community acquired pneumonia in elderly patients.

BACKGROUND:The finite element model has been developed from two-dimensional model to three-dimensional model, from linear model to nonlinear model. As the advantage of this method in the analysis of mechanical characteristics of the irregular objects, the finite element model has been widely used in the research of orthopedic biomechanics, especial y in the research of hip joint. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the stress state of human femur with finite element analysis method and to investigate a method that can rapidly construct femoral finite element model and precisely analyze the biomechanics. METHODS:Normal male femur was used as specimen for CT scan to obtain cross-sectional images of femur in each slice. Three-dimensional reconstruction was performed with DICOM data and MIMICS software, then the femoral three-dimensional finite element model was established with the finite element analysis ABQUS 6.8 software, and the stress distribution of the model was analyzed under loading condition. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Based on DICOM data, three-dimensional finite element model of femur was constructed more quickly and precisely. The models were divided into 38 636 nodes and 201 422 units. The model included the parts of cortical and cancel ous bone. The biomechanical test results were accorded with the previous results, so the model could objectively reflect the real femur shape and biomechanical behavior with high precision. The Mimics software provided a simpler and effective method for the construction of femur model and improved the efficiency of modeling, and the three-dimensional finite element model based on DICOM data was accurate in shape and can be used for the normal research on biomechanical behavior of femur. The stress distribution analyzed with ABQUS 6.8 software is consistent with the clinical observation.

Objective To review the biologic characteristics and biologic effect of cholecystokinine (CCK) on the central nervous system. Methods The literatures of recent years on research advancement of cholecystokinine as neurotransmitters/peptides in signal transduction, neuron protection and pain management in the central nervous system are reviewed. Results CCK possesses the ability to suppress the convulsant effects of convulsants. CCK8 is able to reduce the neural damage caused and delay the neural aging. CCK antagonists play an important role in human pain transduction. Conclusion CCK has been proven to be one of the richest neurotransmitters/neuropeptides as well as an important signal factor in the brain, and its important biologic effect is being confirmed.

Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis(PGD) is an advanced technology based on in-vitro fertility-embryo transfer,which binds multiple-discipline arts,specially the research on DNA analysis assay of single cell,to reach the aim of aristogenesis and wash out abnormal embryo before transfer.With the development of this technique and the ever wider applications,ethical issues also arise.This paper focuses on these ethical issues related to PGD,expecting an actual benefit for human.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal human malignant tumors, and its incidence is rising. Now, its treatment includes surgical resection,chemo - radiotherapy and supplementary treatment. The prognosis of pan-creatic cancer is still dismal. And its one-year survival is low. This article talks about the effect of clinical treatment on quality of life in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Aim To study the effect of BNIP3 on hy-poxia-induced autophagic cell death in gastric carcino-ma.Methods The protein levels of BNIP3 and LC3-Ⅱ of 1 8 cases of gastric carcinoma were studied with immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis be-tween normal and tumor tissues.The expression of LC3-Ⅱ in SGC-7901 cells was assessed while knock-down of BNIP3 by siRNA in CoCl2-induced hypoxia, and the effect of 3-MA was also studied.Cell viability in hypoxia treatment for 48 h was estimated with cell counting kit-8 (CCK8).Results Compared with nor-mal tissues,the protein levels of BNIP3 and LC3-Ⅱwere increased in tumor tissues.BNIP3 siRNA could decrease the expression of LC3-Ⅱ and enhance the cell viability,while inhibition of autophagy could also in-crease the cell viability in SGC-7901 cells.Conclu-sions BNIP3 may play a role in hypoxia-induced cell death in gastric carcinoma,and the possible mecha-nism may be related to the regulation of autophagy.

Objective:To establish the competency model for medical representatives in China. Methods:Firstly, the competen-cy elements for medical representatives were defined through the literature research and logic analysis, the importance of each element was then evaluated by a questionnaire, and the survey results were analyzed by a factor analysis approach. Lastly, the weight of each factor was confirmed by analytic hierarchy process. Results & Conclusion: The competency model, which consists of 5 dimensions ( professional quality, professional ethics, knowledge, personal characteristics and relationship management) , 26 competency elements and the weight of each factor, is established successfully.