Cells, Cultured ; Flutamide ; pharmacology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb ; metabolism ; Sp1 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

Objective To better promote the health education and health promotion among patients with chronic disease, general practitioners (GPs) in the community should master the knowledge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This paper aimed to describe the current situation of GPs' knowledge about prevention and treatment of NCDs. Methods Self-designed questionnaires were issued to 1 077 GPs in community health service centers, and all GPs finished the questionnaire without assistance. The content of questionnaire includes the general information of GPs and six questions focusing on NCDs. Results Overall, 1 076 GPs completed the questionnaire, and the response rate was 99.9% (1 076/1 077). With regard to the six questions about NCDs, 90.4% (973/1 076) of GPs were well aware of the diagnosis of hypertension. Apart from that, the knowledge of diabetes mellitus (60.9%, 655/1 076), factors related to NCDs (70.2%, 755/1 076), the concepts of mental illness (52.0%, 560/1 076) and the clinical significance of tumor markers (87.9%, 946/1 076) among GPs were adequate, while more than half of the GPs did not know a lot about home oxygen therapy. Conclusion The mastering level of knowledge about prevention and treatment of NCDs among GPs varies that they need further improvement.

Objective Establish an overall performance evaluation index system for innovative medical devices transforming project,a major science and technology project in Zhejiang province.Methods The weight of indexes was calculated using Delphi method,analytic hierarchy process and weight of percentile method.Results A three-level performance evaluation index system was established.First level included 3 indexes,as condition index,process index and result index,with weight of 0.3401、0.4042 and 0.2557 respectively.Meanwhile,second level and third level included 13 and 38 indexes.Conclusions The index system provide a performance evaluation tool for the innovative medical devices transforming project.

A two-step method for the purification of blocking-type anti-human CD80 monoclonal antibody 4E5 from mouse ascites was developed using anion exchange and gel filtration in combination. The ascites was first purified by anion exchange after centrifugation and filtration. The experimental parameters of sample loading and elution were optimized. The optimized loading condition was pH 8.0,50 mmol/L Tris-HCl and satisfactory results were obtained using a 0~0.5mol/L NaCl step elution. The fraction containing the protein of interest was directly loaded on gel filtration column and eluted using a 20 mmol/L phosphate buffer at pH 7.2. The purity of the obtained monoclonal antibody was up to 95% with a recovery of 61%. The purity of mAb could efficiently inhibit the growth of Daudi cells. The amplification of the method was also studied using a Bio-Scale Q5 column and the result was satisfied.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Yiqi Yangyin principle (YQYY, the treating principle in TCM to supplement Qi and nourish Yin) on corticosteroid withdrawal in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in remission stage and its influence on some immune parameters.

METHODSThe SLE patients were divided into two groups, 30 in the treated group and 10 in the control group, who were treated by conventional method with corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressant in acute progressive stage, and YQYY was added to the treated group in remission stage.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 93.3% in the treated group and 90.0% in the control group, comparison between the two groups showed significant difference by Ridit test (P < 0.05). The immune parameters, IgG and C3 were significantly improved after treatment in the treated group (P < 0.01), but changed insignificantly in the control group. The maintaining dose of prednisone used in the two groups was 7.08 +/- 5.26 mg/d and 11.72 +/- 6.48 mg/d respectively, the amount used in the treated group was significantly lower than that in the control.

CONCLUSIONUsing mainly YQYY Principle to treat SLE in remission stage could withdraw the corticosteroid smoothly, relieve symptoms and improve immune function.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Complement C3 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Prednisone ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; drug therapy

We have observed earlier that testosterone at physiological concentrations can stimulate tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) gene expression through the androgen receptor in endothelial cells. This study further investigated the impact of testosterone on TFPI levels in response to inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated in the presence or absence of testosterone or TNF-alpha. TFPI protein and mRNA levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. To study the cellular mechanism of testosterone's action, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) translocation was confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. We found that after NF-kappaB was activated by TNF-alpha, TFPI protein levels declined significantly by 37.3% compared with controls (P < 0.001), and the mRNA levels of TFPI also decreased greatly (P < 0.001). A concentration of 30 nmol L(-1) testosterone increased the secretion of TFPI compared with the TNF-alpha-treated group. NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity was significantly suppressed by testosterone (P < 0.05). This suggests that physiological testosterone concentrations may exert their antithrombotic effects on TFPI expression during inflammation by downregulating NF-kappaB activity.
Androgens ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lipoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B p50 Subunit ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of chitosan on the capsule inside the expanded flap.

METHODSThe expanders were implanted in animals with the treatment of chitosan(experimental group, n = 15) or without (control group, n = 15). After taking out the expanders, the flap contraction rate was calculated. The samples were observed through HE, Masson dyeing and CD34 immunohistochemical study. The thickness of capsule inside the expanded flap was measured under microscope. The samples were also studied under electron microscope.

RESULTSThe thickness of capsule was 516.000 +/- 128.491 microm in the experimental group, and 833.000 +/- 227.379 microm in the control group (P < 0.05). The number of microvessels was 8.200 +/- 2.150 per visual in experimental group, and 7.900 +/- 1.729 per visual in control group (P > 0.05). Under the electron microscope, the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) in the capsule in experimental group decreased and enlarged with degranulation. The mitochondria emerged or disappeared. The number of ribosome was reduced. In the control group, the RER enlarged without degranulation, the mitochondria was intact. The number of ribosome was not reduced.

CONCLUSIONSThe chitosan can effectively reduce the contraction of expanded flap through collagen secretion of fibroblast, delaying the differentiation from fibroblast to fiber cell, inhibiting thansform from fibroblast to myofibroblast. It has no effect on the microvascular generation and expansion, so the flap blood supply will not be affected with thicker capsule.

Animals ; Chitosan ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Female ; Graft Survival ; Male ; Rabbits ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Tissue Expansion

OBJECTIVETo examine the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFR1, VEGFR2) in transdifferentiated human proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cell induced by transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1).

METHODSThe transdifferentiation of HK-2 cells was detected by evaluation of expression of alpha-SMA by cytoimmunochemistry and RT-PCR. The VEGF mRNA was evaluated with RT-PCR. The secreted VEGF in the culture media was measured with ELISA. The cellular VEGF, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2 were measured with Western blot.

RESULTSThe immunostain of alpha-SMA were positive in HK-2 cell induced by TGFbeta1 at the concentration of 5 and 8 ng/ml for 72 h. The expression of alpha-SMA mRNA was induced by TGFbeta1 in concentration- and time-dependent manners. The expressions of mRNA and protein of VEGF were upregulated by TGFbeta1 at the concentration of 0.1 and 1 ng/ml for 72 h and at the concentration of 8 ng/ml for 12 h and 24 h when compared with the control. But expressions of mRNA and protein of VEGF were downregulated by TGFbeta1 at the concentration of 3, 5, and 8 ng/ml for 72 h and at the concentration of 8 ng/ml for 36, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Meanwhile, Protein levels of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 were upregulated by TGFbeta1 in concentration- and time- dependent manners.

CONCLUSIONSIncreased expression of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 and two-phase change in VEGF expression occurred in the process of tubular epithelial transdifferentiation induced by TGFbeta1. Reduced expression of VEGF may contribute to tubular epithelial transdifferentiation in a vicious circle.

Cell Differentiation ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Kidney Tubules, Proximal ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; metabolism

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of ouabain at low concentrations on growth regulation in various leukemia cell lines and to determine the therapeutic potential of ouabain in leukemia. By using MTT, flow cytometry (FCM), the changes in cell growth and cell cycle of leukemia cell lines were observed after treating with ouabain at low concentrations ( Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Leukemia ; pathology ; Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute ; pathology ; Ouabain ; pharmacology ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism

Amino Acids ; metabolism ; Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Male ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Neurons ; radiation effects ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Synapses ; radiation effects ; ultrastructure