Objective To explore the competency of community health administrators in a survey of such administrators at large in Shanghai. Methods McClelland's Competency Dictionary was used to set two benchmark positions, while the behavioral event interviewing and questionnaires were made to survey 19 community health service centers in Shanghai. Results The competency model benchmarking on the head of a medical branch consists of 6 character clusters, 11 characteristic items, 27 evaluation dimensions and 27 typical behavior descriptions. The model benchmarking on the community team leader consists of 5 character clusters, 8 characteristic items, 21 evaluation dimensions and 21 typical behavior descriptions. Conclusion Findings of the survey provide objective criteria for competence appraisal of community health administrators, and serve as reference for formulating their development plans as well.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of fire-needle acupuncture in treating myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). Method Seventy-two patients with MPS were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 36 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by fire-needle acupuncture, while the control group was by ordinary acupuncture. The short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) was observed before and after the intervention, and the clinical efficacy was compared. Result The total effective rate and markedly-effective rate were respectively 94.4% and 77.8% in the treatment group versus 80.6% and 30.6%in the control group. There was a significant difference in comparing the markedly-effective rate between the two groups (P<0.01). The MPQ item scores [pain rating index (PRI), present pain intensity (PPI), and visual analogue scale (VAS)] were significantly changed after intervention in both groups (P<0.05). After intervention, the MPQ item scores of the treatment group were significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Fire-needle acupuncture is an effective method in treating MPS.

Objective To investigate the effect of estrogen on gliosis, synaptic proliferation and reorganization in hippocampus of rats with chronic epilepsy induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, PTZ kindling epilepsy group, estrogen+PTZ group and estrogen +Tamoxifen (mixed estrogen antagonist)+PTZ group. The PTZ kindling epilepsy group was intraperitoneally injected with 35 mg/kg PTZ once a day, then the behavior of the rats in one hour was observed. The estrogen interfered group was intramuscluarly injected of 0.6 ?g/kg ?-estradiol 6 h before PTZ injection, 1/3 d. The estrogen+Tamoxifen interfered group was injected of Tamoxifen into lateral cerebral ventricle 1 h before estrogen injection. If the severe epileptic seizures occurred three times, the rats were ready for detecting the expression of filial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and synaptophysin (P38) by immunohistochemical technique. Results Epileptic seizure occoured earlier and more severely in most rats of estrogen interfered group than no estrogen interfered group. Rats in all model groups were found more astrocyte proliferation and positive synaptophysin staining, especially in the CA2, CA3 and hilar areas of dentate gyrus (DG) of hippocampus than control group. Estrogen+Tamoxifen interfered group showed significant difference as compared with other groups (P

Objective To evaluate the T cell subsets in peripheral blood of patients with gastric cancers after operation. Methods The T cell subsets of peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry in 82 cases of gastric cancer before and after operation, and the data were compared with those of benign disease. Results Before operation CD69-positive T cell were significantly lower in cancer patients than those in control (P

Objective To discuss the correlation factors of locally recurrent gastric carcinoma. Methods Clinical, pathological and periodical follow-up datas of 50 cases with locally recurrent gastric carcinoma after radical resection from 1991 to 2005 were studied retrospectively, logistic regression analysis was used to disscuse the possible correlation factors of locally recurrent gastric carcinoma. Results 66.0% of 50 cases had recurrenced within 2 years after operations; Tumor pathological stages, positive lymph nodes and radical resection extent were independent correlation factors of locally recurrent gastric carcinoma. Conclusions Most recurrences would happen within 2 years after radical resection for gastric carcinoma; Early diagnosis of reccurrent gastric carcinoma depends on periodic follow-up observation especially gastroscope; Tumor pathological stages, positive lymph nodes and radical resection extent are independent correlation factors of locally recurrent gastric carcinoma.

Objective To investigate the role of PKCδin free fatty acid-induced endothelial cell apoptosis.Methods In addi-tion,we looked for evidence of apoptosis-related PKCδsignal pathway.Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with va-rious concentrations of free fatty acids and transiently transfected with PKCδsiRNA to inhibit PKCδ expression.Cell proliferation was determined through colorimetric assays,and apoptosis was quantified using flow cytometry.Protein expression was determined from cell lysates use Western blots with antibodies against p-PKCδ Tyr512,PKCδ.Statistical analyses were performed.Results Free fatty acids had multiple effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells,including concentration-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation,induction of apoptosis,increased Fas expression,and increased PKCδ expression and phosphorylation.Inhibition of PKCδmRNA expression by PKCδsiRNA led to a reduction in free fatty acid-induced apoptosis.Conclusion The free fatty acids-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells are possibly mediated by PKCδ.

Objective To study whether the warm ischemia-reperfusion injury can be alleviated if the hepatic glycogen content were increased before liver transplantation.Methods The male SD rats as donors and recipients were divided into groups A,B and C randomly.In group A,the rats were al- lowed access to solid and water ad libitum;In group B,the rats drank glucose liquor for 4 days prior to liver harvesting;In group C,the rats were intravenously injected with 50% glucose besides the protocol in group B 3-4 h prior to liver harvesting.According to the non-heart-beating time(the non- heart-beating time were set into 60,90,120 and 150 min),the rats in groups A,B and C were divided into 4 subgroups,and the orthotopic liver transplantation was performed and the hepatic glycogen and ATP contents were measured.The one-week survival rate and the serum levels of MDA and SOD in the recipients were determined after liver transplantation.Results The hepatic glycogen and ATP con- tents in groups B and C were more than those in group A significantly(P

Zebrafish was selected as model animal, and glucocorticoid dexamethasone was used as a model compound to establish a rapid and high efficient osteopenia model. Zebrafish larvae at 4 days post fertilization (dpf) were exposed to a serial concentrations of dexamethasone solutions, and 0.5% DMSO was selected as the vehicle control group. All groups were incubated in 24-well plates (28.5 degrees C) until 9 dpf. In addition, effects of 10 micromol x L(-1) dexamethasone on preventing against osteopenia induced by etidronate disodium were also investigated. Zebrafish bones at 9 dpf were stained with alizarin red. Quantitative analysis of the stained area was performed by microscopic inspection and digital imaging methods to reflect the amount of bone mineralization. Results showed that dexamethasone group at 2.5, 10 and 25 micromol x L(-1) can decrease the staining area and the staining optical density values of zebrafish head bones when compared with the vehicle control group (0.5% DMSO), which suggested that dexamethasone can significantly reduce the zebrafish mineralized bone and the bone mineral density. Results also showed that 15 and 30 microg x mL(-1) etidronate disodium can increase the mineralized matrix of zebrafish head bone and prevent against osteopenia induced by dexamethasone. In conclusion, the study indicated that zebrafish can be an idea osteopenia model induced by dexamethasone.

To study the effects of puerarin on the aromatase P450 (P450(arom)) mRNA expression and the effects of low-dose puerarin on transcription factors of the P450(arom) gene (P II) 5'-flanking region.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of perioperative administration of rhubarb on the acute inflammatory response in patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: In this prospective, single-blinded, controlled clinical trial, thirty-one patients with gastric cancer operatively treated were randomly divided into two groups, with 14 patients in control group and 17 in study group. Patients in both groups were given an isocaloric and isonitrogenous enteral diet. The enteral diet was started 36 hours after operation, and continued for 6 days. Patients in the study group were fed with rhubarb before operation, and at 1 day and 2 days after operation. Indexes of acute inflammatory response such as serum C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and indexes of nutritional status such as serum albumin (ALB), prealbumin (PA) and transferrin (TRF) were measured before operation, and at 1 day, 3 and 7 days after operation. RESULTS: Patients in both groups had acute inflammatory response, and the indexes of nutritional status decreased after operation.IL-6, CRP and TNF-alpha tested at 3 and 7 days after operation were lower in the study group as compared with those in the control group, and the recovery time of gastrointestinal motility such as borborygmus, gas elimination and defecation was shorter in the study group as compared with that in the control group. The indexes of nutritional status showed no significant differences between two groups after operation. CONCLUSION: Rhubarb can positively modulate the acute inflammatory response, promote the recovery of postoperative gastrointestinal motility, and benefit enteral nutrition support in patients who have undergone major operations for gastric cancer.