A survey was made in Chongqing Medical University on the cultural qualities of teachers of basic courses,their humanity and social knowledge,as well as the role these things have played in students' quality education.The analysis has showed that the cultural qualities of the teachers have been improved in the recent years,while there was still a gap from the requirements of cultivating students' cultural qualities.The survey suggests that it require great attention and constant efforts to improve the teachers' cultural qualities.

Objective: To optimize the formula of memantine hydrochloride sustained release pellets and investigate the drug release in vitro.Methods: Memantine hydrochloride sustained release pellets were prepared by a fluidized bed.The factors such as inlet air temperature, spray pressure and feeding rate were optimized by orthogonal tests.The Box-Behnken response surface methodology was used to screen the major influencing factors (ethyl cellulose aqueous dispersion, PEG 6000 and the coating weight) in the release of memantine hydrochloride.The coating formula and coating weight were optimized with the cumulative release rate of memantine hydrochloride in 2, 6,and 12 h as the response values.The drug release in vitro was also studied.Results: The optimum preparation parameters of the pellets were as follows: the inlet air temperature of 45℃, the spray pressure of 1.0 bar, and the feeding rate of 1.5 r·min-1.The best sustained release coating formula was as follows: the content of ethyl cellulose aqueous dispersion of 8.4%, the content of PEG 6000 of 2.3%, and the weight gain of sustained release layer of 16.7%.The memantine hydrochloride sustained release pellets had notable sustained release effect.Conclusion: Orthogonal tests and Box-Behnken response surface method can be used for the formula optimization of memantine hydrochloride sustained-release pellets.The established fitting model is simple with good predictability.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effects and assess the feasibility of radiofrequency thermo- coagulation denervation(TRD)mediated by digital subtraction angiography(DSA)for patients with lumbar facet joint syndrome(LFJS).Methods Eighty LFJS patients were randomly divided into two groups:a denervated group(groupⅠ)and a control group (groupⅡ).The lumbar facet joints of the patients in groupⅠwere treated with TRD,while those in groupⅡhad their lumbar facet joint cavities injected with the mixture of 1 mg betamethasone and 1 ml lidocaine.All patients were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale(VAS)before treatment and 30 rain,1 d, 1 w,1 m and 6 m after.Schober values were measured at 1 w,1 m and 6 m after treatment.The therapeutic effects and side effects were assessed at 6 m after treatment.Results VAS scores in groupsⅠandⅡat 30 min,1 d,1 w and 1 m after treatment were remarkably lower than before treatment.In addition,those in groupⅠ6m after treatment were also significantly lower(P＜0.01).Compared with those in the groupⅡ,VAS scores in groupⅠwere signifi- cantly decreased at 1 m and 6 m after treatment(P＜0.05 and P＜0.01,respectively).The schober values in groupⅠat 1 m and 6m were obviously increased in comparison with those in groupⅡ,while the therapeutic effects in groupⅠat 6m after treatment were better than those in groupⅡ(P＜0.01).There were no side effects,such as injuries to the nerve roots or dysfunctional dermal sensation,in either group.Conclusion TRD,mediated by DSA,has ther- apeutic effects on LFJS.Such treatment is safe,convenient,and gives long-term pain relief.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the outcome of free perforator flap for repairing soft tissue defects on the dorsum of foot. Methods: Thirty-six patients with soft tissue defects on the dorsum of foot were treated at a single institution from March 2015 to September 2017. They were 20 males and 16 females, aged from 21 to 59 years old, with the mean age of 39.4 years. The causes of injury include crush injury (n=19), traffic injury (n=15), and electric injury (n=2). The injury site involves left foot (n=19) and right foot (n=17). The defect area of soft tissue was from 4.4 cm ×6.6 cm to 7.1 cm×16.2 cm in size. The vacuum sealing drainage dressing (VSD) was performed for all patients at the first stage of operation. The fracture and dislocated bone were fixed using Kirschner needle and plate screw. The ruptured tendon was repaired at the same time. The flap transplantation was performed at the second stage of operation. Twelve patients were treated with free anterolateral thigh perforator flap, 15 patients were treated with free sural artery perforator flap, and 9 were free peroneal perforator flap. The skin flap was from 4.9 cm× 7.2 cm to 7.9 cm × 17.8 cm in size. Results: All 36 flaps survived. The wounds of both donor and recipient area primarily healed, without infection or skin necrosis. The venous crisis occurred in 1 patient of anterolateral thigh flap and 1 patient of free medial sural flap within 24 hours after surgery. Both flaps survived after stitches removed and blood cleaned. All patients were followed up for 6—22 months, with an mean follow-up period of 9.8 months. Except for the swollen anterolateral thigh perforator flap in 2 patients, the other patients were satisfied with the shape of flap and in wearing shoes. The sensation of flap was good, and the two-point discrimination was 11—16 mm. There was no obvious dysfunction occurred in the donor site. Conclusions The free anterolateral thigh perforator flap, free sural artery perforator flap and free peroneal perforator flap are suitable for repairing soft tissue defects on the dorsum of the foot. A reasonable surgical plan can help to obtain satisfactory clinical outcome.

AIM To determine the rutin contents in Hibiscus mutabilis Linn leaves from seventeen growing areas.METHODS Seventeen germplasms of Hibiscus mutabilis were collected from the main distribution areas and their growth characteristics including length of stipe and leaves,width of leaves,ratio of length and width of leaves were studied.The contents of rutin were determined by HPLC,and their correlations with altitude,longitude,latitude,growth characteristics and germplasms were analyzed,then cluster analysis was made.RESULTS There were significant differences of growth characteristics and rutin contents among different germplasms of H.mutabilis (P ＜ 0.01),with 1.389 6 mg/g as their mean value,those collected from Zhejiang,Yunnan,Hubei and Guangxi were relatively higher than others.Moreover,the rutin content had a positive correlation with altitude,a negative correlation with longitude,length of stipe and shape index of leaves,and no significant correlations with latitude.Meanwhile,seventeen germplasms could be divided into four groups.Those from group Ⅰ and Ⅱ had higher rutin contents.CONCLUSION This accurate,stable and reproducible method can be used for the quality control of H.mutabilis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relation of the anogenital distance (AGD) with cryptorchidism in male newborns.

METHODSThis study included 350 male infants delivered in two community hospitals between September 2013 and September 2014. Within 24 hours after birth, a pediatric surgeon measured the AGD of the neonates and determined whether they had cryptorchidism. According to the testicular position, we divided the undescended testes into three types: upper scrotal, inguinal, and non-palpable.

RESULTSTotally 39 cases of cryptorchidism were found in the 350 newborns. The AGD of the cryptorchidism infants was significantly shorter than that of the normal neonates ([2.01 ± 0.22] vs [2.35 ± 0.19] cm, P < 0.01), and statistically significant differences remained even when preterm and low birth-weight infants were excluded ([2.32 ± 0.14] vs [2.06 ± 0.19] cm; (2.37 ± 0.17) cm vs (2.12 ± 0.12) cm, all P < 0.01). The newborns with higher-position cryptorchidism had a shorter AGD, though with no significant difference (F = 0.434, P > 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the AGD between unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism ([1.96 ± 0.13] vs [2.02 ± 0.17] cm, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONShorter AGD is associated with a higher incidence of cryptorchidism in male newborns. AGD could serve as a potential biomarker for disruption of androgen action during the male programming window period.

Androgens ; physiology ; Cryptorchidism ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Perineum ; abnormalities

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of the Artemisia annua plant-derived drug, artesunate, on proliferation of primary rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and to analyze the underlying molecular mechanisms of its anti-fibrogenic effects involving the inhibition of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-b1) expression and secretion in liver.

METHODIsolated, cultured, and activated primary rat HSCs were divided into sixteen groups, including one untreated control group and fifteen artesunate-treated experimental groups with 125, 150, 175, 200 or 225 mumol/L for 24, 48 or 72 hours. The rate of cellular proliferation was measured using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. TGF-b1 mRNA expression was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and protein expression was evaluated by Western blotting. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate secreted levels of TGF-b1 protein.

RESULTSArtesunate significantly inhibited proliferation of cultured HSCs in a dose- and time-dependent manner (all, P less than 0.01). After 24 hours of exposure, the inhibition ratios of the various artesunate concentrations were: 6.06%+/-1.44% (125 mumol/L), 21.47%+/-5.57% (150 mumol/L), 42.00%+/-7.36% (175 mumol/L), 67.12%+/-4.55% (200 mumol/L), and 79.83%+/-3.67% (225 mumol/L). Artesunate significantly inhibited the TGF-b1 mRNA expression in HSCs, and the higher the drug concentration, the higher the degree of inhibition (all, P less than 0.01). In addition, artesunate significantly inhibited the expression of intracellular and secreted TGF-b1 protein (all, P less than 0.01). In response to artesunate (mumol/L concentrations), the TGF-b1 levels were (164.24+/-6.88) pg/ml (0μmol/L), (102.68+/-4.45) pg/ml (150μmol/L), (86.54+/-5.56) pg/ml (175μmol/L), and (56.55+/-5.66) pg/ml (200μmol/L).

CONCLUSIONArtesunate exerts anti-fibrogenic effects on HSCs in vitro, possibly by reducing the expression, translation and secretion of TGF-b1.

Animals ; Artemisinins ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; secretion ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the value of the change of B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP) in predicting weaning outcome of patients with mechanical ventilation in ICU.Methods We carried out a prospective cohort study on patients in ICU at Fuxing Hospital from July 2013 to January 2014.Patients expected to use mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours were enrolled in our study.The plasma concentration of BNP was measured at the beginning of spontaneous breathing trial(SBT) and 2 hours after.According to the outcome of SBT,patients were divided into SBT failure group (group A),weaning failure group (group B) and weaning success group (group C).The levels of BNP before and after the SBT were compared among three groups.The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the changes of BNP (△BNP) and the rate of change (△BNP％) in predicting weaning outcome.Results A total of 56 patients were enrolled in our study,12 in group A,11 in group B and 33 in groupC.In groupC,both△BNPand△BNP％ [7.0,(-1.2,45.5) ng/L;6.1 (-2.1,11.5)％]were significantly lower than those in group A [88.0 (58.0,140.0) ng/L,P ＜ 0.05;20.5 (15.3,40.3) ％,P＜0.001]and group B[46.0 (17.5,91.2) ng/L,P＜0.001;24.3(13.0,32.5) ％,P＜0.001].The area under ROC curve (AUC) of △BNP％ to predict weaning success was 0.88 [95％ CI 0.79-0.97;P ＜0.001] and the cut-off value is 13.4％ with relatively high sensitivity(84.8％)and specificity(82.6％).The AUC of △BNP to predict weaning success was 0.80 [95％ CI 0.69-0.92;P ＜ 0.001] and the cut-off value is 80ng/L with high sensitivity 93.4％ and mediocre specificity (47.9％).Conclusion Either △BNP％ or △BNP in the SBT can predict weaning outcome,in which △BNP％ seems better than △BNP.

Objective To evaluate the usefulness of serum galactemannan(GM) for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in critically ill patients. Methods Study was conducted between February 2007 and July 2008. Included patients on admission ICU who suffer from suspected IPA. GM test and culture were collected 2 weekly. Chnical feature, mycological evidence and optical density index (ODI) were noted. Clinically invasive fungal infection(IFI) were defined proven, probable and possible. The patients were classified into neutropenia, non-neutropenia and treated with immunosuppressive agents, non-neutropenia and non-immunosuppressive agents. To compared of the sensitivity and specificity of GM in different patients. Results 94 patients were included, 4 patients were proven, 29 patients were probable, 34 patients were possible IFI, 27 patients were non-IPA. The positive rate of the GM was 31.9% (30/94). The sensitivity and specificity of GM in proven cases and probable cases are 66.7% and 92.6%. GM assay tended to become positive earlier than the culture 2-10(5.33±2.17)d. We found that differences in patient diagnosis and selection might account for the disparities seen for positive rate for the GM test. There was positive in three of the four patients with proven, the positive rate of GM was 65.5% for probable cases, for possible cases was 17.6%, for non-IPA cases was 7.4% (P=0.001). For patient with neutropenia , treated with immunosuppressive agents and without immunosuppressive agents, the positive rate of GM was 52.9%vs 41.7% vs 34. 6% (P=0.015) ;the sensitivity was 80.0% vs 70. 0% vs 53.8% (P=0.011), the ODI was 1.365 (0.582-6.736) vs 1. 123 (0. 623-6.868) vs 0.554 (0.522-0.823), P=0. 005, respectively. Conclusion These results show that GM test is useful for early diagnosis IPA in critically ill patients. Differences in patient selection and diagnosis might account for the disparities seen for positive rate and sensitivity for the GM test. It has been higher sensitivity and ODI in the patient treated by immunosuppressive agents.

Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Guidelines as Topic