Objective Pathophysiology has high comprehensiveness and practical characteristics. Developing analytical capacity is a major teaching aim of Pathophysiology. This study was aimed to build up the basic knowledge of pathophysiology and develop a critical approach through comparative case learning in medical students. Methods A pair of related cases were chosen in this study. Comparative case learning was performed in our lecture. Case analysis was tested before and after comparative case learning,and a self-evaluation was accessed after comparative case learning. The scores of case-analyzing test and self-evaluation assessment were statistically analyzed. Results Using“comparative case learning”in pathophysiology could improve medical students' case-analyzing score,especially in clinical syndrome analyzing examination questions(difficult examination questions). There was a significant correlation between high score of clinical syndrome analyzing examination and students' self-evaluation. ConclusionComparative case learning could improve the analytical,data searching and comprehensive abilities,thereby enhancing a case-analyzing ability in medical students.

Objective To explore the feasibility of low-tube-voltage and low-concentration contrast agent applied to coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) in the overweight patients. Methods Totally 83 overweight patients with suspected coronary heart disease who underwent coronary artery angiography were randomly assigned into two groups. Group A used 100 kVp and ioversol-320 mg/ml, and Group B received 120 kVp and iopamidol-370 mg/ml. Both the groups went through prospectively ECG-gated scanning. The two groups were compared on the image quality, radiation dose, iodine intake and coronary artery segments scores. Results The effective radiation dose and iodine intake in Group A were significantly lower than those in Group B (P<0.05). Group A had the coronary artery CT value and image noise lower significantly than Group B (P<0.05). No significant differences in signal to noise ratio, contrast to noise ratio and coronary artery segments scores were observed between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion For coronary artery CTA in the overweight patients, low-tube-voltage and low-concentration contrast agent still preserves the image quality, as well as significantly reduces the radiation dose and iodine intake.

OBJECTIVETo provide experimental data for the quality control of processed Paeonia lactiflora, a Chinese herbal medicine.

METHODTraditional processing of P. lactiflora was simulated, content of paeoniflorin and water extracts among different preparations were assayed by HPLC; The quantitative correlations among different processing conditions were analyzed, the effects of processing parameters on the contents of paeoniflorin and water extracts were assayed and analysed.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe controlled processing parameters were correlated with covariables which showed that processing procedures was controllable, and the heating temperature was a factor impacting the content of paeoniflorin.

Caffeic Acids ; analysis ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Ecosystem ; Lycopus ; chemistry ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Seasons ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To determine whether an increased number of transrectal biopsy cores improves the accuracy of biopsy Gleason score. Methods This study reviewed a total of 86 patients who were diagnosed as prostate cancer by transrectal needle biopsy and subsequently underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) without neoadjuvant therapy.The rate of grading concordance between biopsy and RP specimens was analyzed by dividing these patients into 2 groups according to the biopsy cores:group A,46 patients who underwent transrectai biopsy sampling of 6 cores,and group B,40 patients who underwent biopsy sampling of 13 cores. Results The concordance between prostate biopsy and radical prostatectomy Gleason score was 65.0%and 34.8% for 13 core and 6 core biopsy,respectirely (P＜0.05).Furthermore,these findings tended to be more prominent as the biopsy Gleason score was lower.Multivariate analysis identified the number of biopsy cores and percent of positive biopsy cores as independent predictors of accurate Gleason grading regardless of other parameters examined in this study. Conclusion Extended needle biopsy may increases the accuracy of biopsy Gleason score for assessing final prostate cancer grade.

OBJECTIVETo develop a novel scaffolding method for the copolymers poly lactide-co-glycolide acid (PLGA) to construct a three-dimensional (3-D) scaffold and explore its biocompatibility through culturing Schwann cells (SCs) on it.

METHODSThe 3-D scaffolds were made by means of melt spinning, extension and weaving. The queueing discipline of the micro-channels were observed under a scanning electronic microscope (SEM).The sizes of the micropores and the factors of porosity were also measured. Sciatic nerves were harvested from 3-day-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats for culture of SCs. SCs were separated, purified, and then implanted on PLGA scaffolds, gelatin sponge and poly-L-lysine (PLL)-coated tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) were used as biomaterial and cell-supportive controls, respectively. The effect of PLGA on the adherence, proliferation and apoptosis of SCs were examined in vitro in comparison with gelatin sponge and TCPS.

RESULTSThe micro-channels arrayed in parallel manners, and the pore sizes of the channels were uniform. No significant difference was found in the activity of Schwann cells cultured on PLGA and those on TCPS (P larger than 0.05), and the DNA of PLGA scaffolds was not damaged.

CONCLUSIONThe 3-D scaffolds developed in this study have excellent structure and biocompatibility, which may be taken as a novel scaffold candidate for nerve-tissue engineering.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Lactic Acid ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schwann Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphism and serum lipid profile.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction-restricted fragments length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to determine ApoE genotype on 1452 subjects including 1101 cases with cardio cerebrovascular disease including 379 cases with cerebral infarction, 313 cases with cerebral hemorrhage, 257 cases with coronary heart disease, and 152 cases with other types and on 351 healthy controls.

RESULTSAfter adjusting for age, sex and BMI, the subjects with ApoE4 carriers had significantly higher levels of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and ApoB than those with ApoE2 carriers and ApoE3/3 (P < 0.05), and higher level of triglyceride(TG) than those with ApoE3/3 (P < 0.05), while the subjects with ApoE2 carriers had significantly higher levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) than those with ApoE4 (P < 0.05). The effects of ApoE polymorphism exhibited similarity in different sex and age of subjects. Linear regression analysis showed that unlike ApoE3/3, the HDL-C level in ApoE2 carriers tend upward with age (beta = 0.178, P = 0.015), significantly higher than ApoE4 carriers and ApoE3/3 in the cohort of 65-74 years (P < 0.05). The level of TC and TG in ApoE4 carriers had a tendency of downward with age (p = -0.179, P = 0.009; beta = -0.147, P = 0.032).

CONCLUSIONApoE gene polymorphism affected profile of blood lipids and the effects were found in different sex and age. The degrees of effects related to ApoE2 carriers and ApoE4 carriers to blood lipid level seemed to be related to age.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sex Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo prepare the PrP specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that can be used for the detection of mammalian prions and study of pathogenesis of prion diseases.

METHODSSeveral BALB/c mice were immunized with recombinant hamster prion protein (HaPrP). Three hybridoma cell lines designated as B7, B9, and B10, secreting monoclonal antibodies against HaPrP, were established by hybridoma technique. The mAbs reactivities were evaluated with ELISA, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe mAbs produced by these cell lines reacted well with different recombinant hamster PrP proteins. Western blot analyses showed that mAbs B7 and B9 reacted with PrPSc from the scrapie-infected animals after proteinase K digestion with three glycosylated forms. The mAbs exhibited cross-reactivity with various PrPC from several other mammalian species, including humans and cattles. Immunohistochemistry assays confirmed that mAbs B7 and B9 could recognize not only extracellular but also intracellular PrPsSc.

CONCLUSIONThe mAbs of prion protein are successfully generated by hybridoma technique and can be applied for the diagnosis of prion associated diseases.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cricetinae ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Immunization ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; PrPC Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; PrPSc Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the number of drinking occasions per day and average amount consumed per drinking occasion of primary and middle school students in four cities of China, and understand the relationship among drinking occasion, average amount consumed per drinking occasion and total drinking water.

METHODSA total of 5914 primary and middle school students from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu were selected using multiple-stage random sampling method, and 5868 students completed the study from September to October in 2011. The detailed information of amounts and types of daily drinking water was recorded by subjects using a 24 hours measurement for seven consecutive days. Analysis of the relationship among drinking occasion, average amount consumed per drinking occasion and total drinking water was carried out.

RESULTSThe daily total drinking water of subjects was (1089 ± 540) ml; the daily number of drinking occasions was (4.7 ± 1.8) times, with 79.1% (4639/5868) of subjects reporting 6 or less drinking occasions. The amount consumed per drinking occasion was (239 ± 96) ml, plain water (231 ± 112) ml, and beverages (237 ± 112) ml. The number of drinking occasions of subjects was positively correlated with total drinking water (r = 0.614, P < 0.05), and negatively correlated with the average amount consumed per drinking occasion (r = -0.211, P < 0.05). Total drinking water and the average amount consumed per drinking occasion was positively correlated (r = 0.598, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe number of drinking occasion of primary and middle school students more than 6 times was fewer in four cities of China, but the average amount of beverages consumed per drinking occasion was relatively more. With the increasing of drinking occasion, the average amount consumed per drinking occasion decreased, but total drinking water increased.

Adolescent ; Beverages ; Child ; China ; Diet Surveys ; Drinking ; Drinking Water ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Students ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo explore the transmission routes, genotypes/subtypes distribution and genetic character of HCV in HIV/HCV co-infected and HCV mono-infected individuals in Guangdong Province.

METHODSReverse transcription (RT) nested PCR was performed to amplify the HCV NS5B gene region from 95 HIV/HCV co-infected and 99 HCV mono-infected individuals lived in Guangdong province. The PCR products were then sequenced for HCV subtyping. Genetic analysis was done by MEGA4 software.

RESULTS(1) HIV/HCV co-infected individuals infected HCV mostly through injection drug use (IDU, 78.9%), the HCV subtypes were identified as 6a (53.7%), 3a (17.9%), 1b (15.8%), 3b (11.6%) and 1a (1.0%) respectively, the genetic distance within subtype 1b was longer than those within other subtypes, the predominant HCV subtype in HIV/HCV co-infected individuals infected through IDU was 6a (60.0%). (2) HCV mono-infected individuals infected HCV mostly through blood or blood products transfusions (80.8%), the HCV subtypes were identified as 1b (67.7%), 6a (17.2%), 3a (6.1%), 2a (5.0%), 3b (2.0%), 4a (1.0%) and 5a (1.0%) respectively, the genetic distance within subtype 1b was also longer than those within other subtypes, the predominant HCV subtype in HCV mono-infected individuals infected through blood or blood products transfusions was 1b (76.2%).

CONCLUSIONThe diversity of HCV subtypes in HIV/HCV co-infected and HCV mono-infected individuals in Guangdong Province was high, both the major transmission route and HCV subtype between HIV/HCV co-infected individuals and HCV mono-infected individuals were different.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; epidemiology ; Coinfection ; virology ; Female ; Genotype ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Hepacivirus ; classification ; genetics ; Hepatitis C ; epidemiology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phylogeny ; Young Adult

The comparative efficacy of 2 anthelmintics (ivermectin and levamisole) against Baylisascaris transfuga migrating and encapsulated larvae was studied in mice. A total of 60 BALB/c mice inoculated each with about 1,000 embryonated B. transfuga eggs were equally divided into 6 groups (A-F) randomly. Mice of groups A and B were treated with ivermectin and levamisole, respectively, on day 3 post-infection (PI). Mice of groups A-C were killed on day 13 PI. Similarly, groups D and E were treated with ivermectin and levamisole, respectively, on day 14 PI, and all mice of groups D-F were treated on day 24 PI. The groups C and F were controls. Microexamination was conducted to count the larvae recovering from each mouse. The percentages of reduction in the number of migrating larvae recovered from group A (ivermectin) and B (levamisole) were 88.3% and 81.1%, respectively. In addition, the reduction in encapsulated larvae counts achieved by ivermectin (group D) and levamisole (group E) was 75.0% and 49.2%, respectively. The results suggested that, to a certain extent, both anthelmintics appeared to be more effective against migrating larvae than encapsulated larvae. However, in the incipient stage of infection, ivermectin may be more competent than levamisole as a larvicidal drug for B. transfuga.
Animals ; Anthelmintics/*administration & dosage ; Ascaridida Infections/*drug therapy/parasitology ; Ascaridoidea/*drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Ivermectin/*administration & dosage ; Larva/drug effects ; Levamisole/*administration & dosage ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Rodent Diseases/drug therapy/parasitology ; Treatment Outcome