Objective To understand the attitude and current situation of medical English stud y as well as its relevant factors among long schooling medical students so as to provide first hand information for constructing students-centered medical English teaching model. Methods A self-de-signed questionnaire including basic information of students, attitude and current situation of medical English students was given to 134 seven or eight year program clinical medical graduates from grade 2006 to grade 2008 in Tongji University. Questionnaires were collected timely and an-alyzed with SPSS 19.0 and results were described by percentage. Results Totally 132 copies of questionnaire were recovered with an recovering rate of 98.51%. 56.82%(75/132) students had interest in medical English study and 71.97%(95/132)students had a will to go abroad for learning exchange. Main pur-poses for students to learn medical English were ‘professional literature reading’(68.94%,91/132),‘SCI papers writing’(59.09%,78/132)and ‘international communication’(58.33%, 77/132). Main influencing factors of medical English study were ‘boring teaching methods ’ ( 45 . 45%, 60/132 ) ,‘difficult medical English’(41.67%,55/132) and ‘insufficient teaching time’(40.91%,54/132).Conclusions Medical students with long schooling have demand for medical English study;however, most of them have some difficulties in practical application. Measures should be taken from three as-pects including students, teachers and curriculum setting to improve students' medical English.

Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most important microvascular complications of diabetes,which has become one of the leading causes of blindness.Neovascularization is the main pathological manifestations of DR,but its mechanism is unknown.There is a clear need to investigate its pathogenesis which can offer potential therapeutic targets.Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and distribution of visfatin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in diabetic model rats.Methods This study was approved by Animal Ethic Committee of Inner Mongolia Medical University.Sixty SPF 8-week-old male SpragueDawley rats were randomized into the diabetic group and control group.The rats were housed under a condition that alternated between 12 hours of light and darkness,with free access to rat food and water.Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg (0.60 ml/100 g) of streptozotocin (STZ) and control rats received equivalent volume of buffer.The models were regarded as successful when blood glucose was ≥ 16.7 mmol/L.Rats were sacrificed 12 weeks after the injection of STZ and retinal specimens were prepared to detect the expression of visfatin and VEGF.Total retinal protein was isolated from the retinas of experimental and control eyes,and the expression of visfatin and VEGF was assessed by Western blot.Frozen cross sections of retinas of 5 μm thickness were used to perform double immunofluorescence staining with anti-visfatin and anti-VEGF antibodies.Results Mean body weight of the diabetic rats was (189.02±11.34) g and that of the control rats was (489.57 ± 14.48) g at 12 weeks post-injection,showing a significant difference between them (t =5.236,P =0.003).Mean blood glucose level was (29.25±3.86) mmol/L in the diabetic group and (5.32±1.01) mmol/L in the control group,demonstrating a significant difference (t =11.778,P =0.000).Double immunofluorescence staining showed reduced expression of visfatin and VEGF in the retinal nerve fibrous layer and glial cells in the control rats.A stronger staining for visfatin and VEGF was found in the various layers of the retina in the diabetic rats,with an expression level of visfatin (A value) of 346.26±41.23,which was considerably higher than that of the control group (102.07±65.01) (t =8.291,P =0.000) in 12 weeks after injection.Furthermore,the expression of VEGF in the retina was elevated in the diabetic group compared with the control group (A value) (415.88±92.15 vs.113.06±32.06) (t=10.067,P=0.000).Conclusions Visfatin might contribute to the pathologic progression of diabetic retinal,neovascularization and it might play a synergistic role with VEGF in the pathophysiology of DR.

Adolescent ; Humans ; Male ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Neurofibromatosis 2

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of health education on controlling of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis(referred to as endemic fluorosis) in Guizhou,and to provide a scientific basis for development of control strategies.Methods A total of 37 counties were selected in Guizhou province,and 3 townships were chosen in each project county.Heath educational activities were carried out in the classes of grade 5 in the Central Primary School of each selected township.In the meantime,3 villages were chosen in each selected township where the health education for women of child-bearing age in the community was carried out.Survey on knowledge questionnaire of endemic fluorosis control was conducted among 30 students of grade 5 in the Central Primary School and 15 women of childbearing age of each selected township before and after the health educational activities.Results The knowing rate of endemic fluorosis control of pupils in all the 37 counties increased from 45.03％(14637/32505) to 89.79％(52898/58910),of women of child-bearing age increased from 38.97％ (5729/14700) to 76.55％(19198/25080) after the health education.ConclusionsThe knowing rate of endemic fluorosis control among pupils and women of child-bearing age is remarkably increased after implementing the health education projects.They have better life and health habits,and the project has reached desired goal.

Objective To examine the effects and mechanisms of siRNA targeting aquaporin 4 (AQP 4) in combination with hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBO) on cerebral edema and apoptosis in the brain tissue of rats after hemorrhage.Methods Rats were randomly divided into four groups,the control group,the hyperbaric oxygen group,the AQP-4 siRNA group and the combination therapy group (24 rats).Thrombin Ⅶ was injected into the caudate nucleus to establish the hemorrhage model.Construction of siRNA targeting aquaporin 4 was conducted.The mRNA expression of AQP-4 was detected by RT-PCR at day 3.Changes in brain moisture and blood-brain barrier perme ability were measured by a wet/dry weight method and Evans blue fluorometry.The nerve cell apoptosis rate was analyzed by Annexin V andTdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL).The expression of proteins including AQP-4,MMP-2,MMP-9,Bcl-2 and caspase-3 was detected by Western Blotting.All the animals were given a score for their nerve function at day 3.Results AQP-4 siRNA treatment obtained better effects than HBO in decreasing the brain edema leveland silencing AQP-4 mRNA(P＜0.05)while,the combination therapy group achieved the best results(P＜ 0.05).Compared with the control group,the percentage of apoptotic cells decreased in all the three treatment groups,with the most marked decrease observed in the combination treatment group(4.24± 0.04)％(F=13.76,P=0.001).The expression of AQP-4,MMP-2,MMP-9 and caspase-3 was lower (P＜0.05) and the expression of Bcl-2 was higher(P＜0.01)in the combination treatment group than in the other three groups.Compared with the control group,all the other three groups received better scores on nerve function defect evaluation at day 3 after hemorrhage(P＜0.05),with the combination treatment group again achieving the most favorable score (4.7 ± 1.1) (F=7.21,P =0.013).Conclusions Targeted siRNA interference combined with hyperbaric oxygen can effectively reduce cerebral edema after cerebral hemorrhage,inhibit neuronal apoptosis and promote neuron function recovery.The underlying mechanisms may be related to down-regulation of AQP-4,MMP 2,MMP-9 and caspase-3 expression and up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) on oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in a rat model of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM).

METHODSThirty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, diabetes group and treatment group( n = 10). Intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin was utilized to establish a rat model of DCM. The rats with DCM in treatment group were intraperitoneally injected with NaHS solution. After treated for 12 weeks, the hearts isolated from rats were perfused on a langendorff apparatus. The ventricular hemodynamic parameters were measured. The ultrastructures of myocardium were observed using electron microscopy. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in myocardial tissue were determined by spectrophotometry. The expressions of C/EBP homologous protein( CHOP), glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and Caspase 12 at mRNA level in myocardium were detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the cardiac function and myocardial ultrastructure were damaged obviously in diabetic rats. In myocardial tissue, the content of MDA was increased, while the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were decreased. CHOP, GRP78 and Caspase 12 mRNA expressions were increased significantly. Compared with diabetes group, cardiac function and myocardial ultrastructure damage were improved in treatment group. The content of MDA was decreased, while the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were increased significantly. The mRNA levels of CHOP, GRP78 and Caspase 12 were increased.

CONCLUSIONH2S can protect myocardium in diabetic rats, maybe it is related to reduce oxidative stress damage and inhibition of the ERS-induced apoptosis pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 12 ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetic Cardiomyopathies ; drug therapy ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; pharmacology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; ultrastructure ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Streptozocin ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor CHOP ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effect of selenium on proliferation and apoptosis of chondrocytes of articular cartilage cultured in vitro in Kaschin-Beck disease(KBD) patients and normal person, to explore the role of selenium in control of KBD, and to provide evidence for selenium's effect on the growth of normal cartilage cells. Methods The articular cartilage samples of grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ KBD patients were selected according to the national "Clinical Diagnosis of KBD" (GB 16003-1995). Chondrocytes of 5 KBD and 5 non-endemic normal accidentswere separated and cultured in vitro. KBD group and control group were given different doses of selenium (0,0.0125,0.0250,0.0500,0.1000,0.2500,0.5000,1.0000 mg/L, respectively). Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT),flow cytometric analysis, and immunocytochemical staining were used to observe the effect of selenium on cell growth and apoptosis in KBD and normal persons. Results MTT results showed that the cell proliferation rate in each dosage group of the control group at the 6th day(0.086 ± 0.025,0.077 ± 0.012,0.073 ± 0.027,0.071 ± 0.017,0.058 ± 0.028,0.052 ± 0.028 and 0.046 ± 0.037) was significantly lower than that of 0 mg/L group(0.138 ± 0.026,all P ＜ 0.05);the average cell proliferation rate was negative( - 0.001 ± 0.001, - 0.003 ± 0.000, - 0.003 ± 0.001and - 0.004 ± 0.001 ) in 0.1000 - 1.0000 mg/L dose group, which was significantly lower than that of the 0 mg/L group(0.025 ± 0.003, all P ＜ 0.05);compared with 0 mg/L group(0. 115 ± 0.011), the KBD 0.2500 mg/L dose group promoted cell proliferation(0.128 ± 0.037, P ＜ 0.05), the KBD 1.0000 mg/L dose group inhibited cell growth (0.071 ± 0.019, P ＜ 0.05). The apoptotic rate of 0.0500 - 1.0000 mg/L dose control group [ (18.88 ± 0.02)%,(17.58 ± 0.01)%, (17.09 ± 0.04)%, (56.00 ± 0.02)%, (57.85 ± 0.03)% ] were higher than that of the 0 mg/L group[(13.51 ± 0.01)%, all P ＜ 0.05];compared with 0 mg/L group[(25.84 ± 0.02)%], the apoptotic rate in KBD 0.0250 - 0.2500 mg/L dose group [ ( 13.69 ± 0.02) %, ( 15.96 ± 0.03 ) %, ( 16.68 ± 0.03 ) %, ( 16.67 ± 0.02) % ]were lower, and the apoptotic rate in 0.5000, 1.0000 mg/L dose group [ (59.58 ± 0.03)%, (73.48 ± 0.04)% ] were significantly higher(all P ＜ 0.05). The Fas expression in KBD 0.0500 - 0.2500 mg/L dose groups[ (41.2 ± 1.5)%,(40.3 ± 2.0)%, (50.2 ± 2.5)%] were lower than those of the same dose control group with selenium intervention [(52.4 ± 1.0)%, (67.2 ± 4.0)%, (75.1 ± 5.0)%, all P ＜ 0.05], the caspase-3 expression in KBD 0.0500,0.1000 mg/L dose groups[ (40.8 ± 1.1 )%, (45.1 ± 2.1 )%] were lower than those of the same dose control group with selenium intervention[ (68.0 ± 3.0)%, (70.6 ± 3.5)%, all P ＜ 0.05 ]. Conclusions Appropriate dose of selenium supplementation (0.1000 - 0.2500 mg/L) could promote the growth of KBD chondrocyte, decrease cell apoptosis,but have a damage when the dose of selenium ＞ 0.5000 mg/L;doses of selenium that could promote the growth of KBD chondrocyte does not mean to promote the growth of normal cartilage cells in vivo.

Background Macular hole in high myopia has been paid tremendous attention in clinical research due to its high recurrence rate and unpredictable prognosis.Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is considered to be of a good evaluating value for macular hole,yet its application is compromised in patient with high myopia.High myopia might lead to retinal detachment which consequently prevents an accurate OCT.Therefore,it is important to assess the effectiveness of OCT on prognosis in these patients after surgical restoration of the detached retina.Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of reopening of a macular hole in highly myopic patient after removing silicone oil by SD-OCT.Methods A case-observational study was designed.Twenty-five highly myopic patients with monocular macular holes who underwent vitrectomy combined with internal limiting membrane peeling and silicone oil tamponade were included in this study.Four patients were male and 21 patients were female,with the average age (61.4±9.0) years old and diopter (-14.14 ±6.86)D.Regular ocular examination,axial length measurement,fundus photography and OCT were performed at the day before removing silicone oil and every month till the 6 months after operation.Retinal thickness,macular height index (MHI) and choroidal thickness were measured by OCT.Written informed consent was obtained from each patient.Results All 25 patients finished the follow-up of 6 months.Macular holes remained closure 6 months after operation in 19 patients (76％) and reopened in 6 patients macular holes were in 1-5 months (24％),with a mean time at (3.3± 1.4) months.The average foveal retinal thickness,MHI and the choroidal thickness at the middle of the macular hole were (216.5±95.6) μm,0.30 ± 0.09 and (122.9 ± 20.5) μm in the closed group,respectively,and those in the unclosed group were (113.5±28.7) μm,0.58±0.27 and (96.8±22.9) μm,with significant differences between the two groups (t=2.577,-4.143,2.669,P ＜ 0.05).The percentage of macular hole closure was 85.7％ in the MHI＜0.5 group and 25.0％ in the MHI ≥ 0.5 group,showing a significant difference (P =0.031).The base diameter in the unclosed hole group was significantly larger than that in the closed hole group (1070.2±393.6 μm versus 533.3±277.7 μm) (t =-3.700,P =0.001).Conclusions The measurements of the retinal thickness,MHI and the choroidal thickness at the central area of the macular hole are helpful for the evaluation of reopening risk of macular hole after removing silicone oil.

Background With the development of phacoemulsification surgery,the minimization of the size of the incision in order to reduce the damaging of eye tissue and postoperative complications becomes a focus.Objective This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of coaxial phacoemulsification type cataract surgery through a 1.8 mm microincision with foldable intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in eyes with age-related cataract.Methods Informed consent was obtained from each patient at the beginning of this study.A serial case observation study was designed.Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients with age-related cataract were enrolled in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People' s Hospital from April 2012 to May 2012,including 8 eyes of grade Ⅱ hard nucleus cataract,16 eyes of grade Ⅲ hard nucleus cataract and 8 eyes of grade Ⅳ hard nucleus cataract.Ocular axial length was measured by an A-mode ultrasonic apparatus,and IOL diopter was calculated using the SRK-Ⅱ formula.Under ocular surface anesthesia,a 1.8 mm clear corneal tunnel incision was made at the 10-11 o' clock position,and then an auxiliary incision was made at the 2 o' clock position.The opaque lens was extracted by routine phacoemulsification.An Akreos MI60 IOL was implanted through the 1.8 mm incision.The time and level of ultrasonic power required for phacoemulsification,postoperative visual acuity and incidence of postoperative complication were assessed.Postoperative examinations were scheduled at 1 day,1 week and 1 month after the surgery.Results All the operations proceeded smoothly.The mean phaco-time was (7.0±3.6) seconds and the mean ultrasonic power level was (15.3 ±6.1)％ among the different grades of cataract groups.The number of eyes presenting an uncorrected distance visual acuity of ≥ 0.5 was 18 (56.25％),28 (87.50％) and 30 (93.75％) 1 day,1 week and 1 month after surgery,respectively.The number of eyes with a best corrected distance visual acuity of ≥ 0.5 and 0.8 were 31(96.88％) and 26 (81.25％),respectively,1 month after surgery.Negligible changes were detected in the anterior chamber depths,and no thermal damage was found at the incision during the operation.Conclusions Coaxial phacoemulsification and IOL implantation through a 1.8 mm microincision is safe and effective.Thorough planning and precise execution are necessary.

Objective To investigate the expression of FHIT gene in the 60Co gamma-ray irradiated human lymphocytoblast(AHH-1) cell and the bystander effect cell,and to explore the function of FHIT gene in the bystander effect of ionizing radiation.Method Preparation of bystander effect cell model:after irradiated with different dose of 60Co gamma-ray(0,2,5 Gy),the directly irradiated AHH-1 ceils were collected immediately by centfifugation and co-cultivated with non-irradiated cells in Transwell.forming the bystander effect group P1.In addition,some culture media supernatant of direcfly irradiated cells were transfefred to the non- irradiated cells culture medium,forming the group P2.Then cells were collected at 0,6,12,and 24 h after irradiation and the total RNA and protein were extracted.RT-PcR and Western blot were performed to determine the FHIT mRNA and protein level.respectively.Flow cytometry assay and cell counting were conducted to detect the alteration of cell cycle and cell proliferation,respectively at 0,24 h after irradiation.Results The mRNA level of FHIT gene among control cells,directly irradiated cells and bystander cells showed no obvious difference. while the FHIT protein level of the directly irradiated ceils and bystander cells was siguificandy down-regulated compared with the control cells(F=102.45,P<0.001).Moreover,the directly irradiated cells and bystander cells showed significant G2 phase arrest and obviously inhibited the proliferation ability.Conclusions 2 and 5 Gy of 60Co γ-ray irradiated AHH-1 cells can result in down regulation of the FHIT protein expression,which suggests that FHIT gene is involved in the process of bvstander effect induced by irradiation.