RNA interference is a mechanism of posttranscriptional gene silencing(PTGS) induced by double-stranded RNA. dsRNA is firstly degradated into 21-23 nt siRNA by Dicer RNase, and then makes itself as a template, triggers sequence-specific mRNA to degradate at the specific site and the specific time. Along with the deep study and the wide application of RNAi, RNAi technology can be used to address certain bottlenecks during preclinical drug development.Such technologies currently are being used to help identify the best drug targets for a given disease indication. An emerging and potentially powerful application of these technologies is now being explored to help prioritize drug candidates to lessen cost and time consuming preclinical animal studies. Effective implementation of RNAi technology during preclinical drug development can increase the probability of success and accelerate the path to the clinic. and provide emerging and potentially powerful tools for drug study.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes of patients with panniculitis. Methods Clinical data of patients with panniculitis admitted to our hospital were analyzed and followed up. The disease was classified into two sub-types: cutaneous type and systemic type. The clinical profile and treatment as well as the outcomes were compared. Results The mean follow up time of 61 in-patients with panniculitis was 49.2 months (range: 2～216 months). Remission could be achieved in 17 patients, recurrent episodes happened in 26 patients. Eighteen patients turued out to be diffuse connective tissue disease (CTD), hematological disorders, malignant tumors and tuberculosis during follow-up. The age at sympton onset was 33±17 years old in 43 patients with primarily panniculitis which eutaneoua sub-tye was 12 patients and systemic sub-tye was 31 patients. The male: female ratio was 1:15. Patients with systemic sub-type were associated with liver (25 patients), spleen (23 patients), respiratory system (11 patients), kidney (12 patients), and circulatory (3 patients) system involvement. Nine patients with systemic sub-type presen-ted white blood cell decrease while none of in the cutaneous sub-type. The difference was significant (P=0.044). Biopsy of the lesions had shown nuclear dust in 16.3% of primarily panniculitis patients. Conclusion Pannieulitis can associate with systemic rheumatic diseases, malignant tumors, hematological disorders and tuberculosis. The main systemic involvements with systemic sub-type are liver and spleen, and may have whiteblood cell decreasing. Some patients could achieve remission when treated with corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive drugs. However,the majority of patients will have recurrences when corticosteroids is tapered.

Objective To know the drinking water quality in the rural areas in Shanxi province in order to enhance the management of drinking water and provide the scientific basis for water improvement in the rural areas. Methods 11 counties were selected based on the geographical condition in Shanxi province and 10 investigation sites were selected in each county based on the population proportion of different drinking-water types. 14 indicators were determined for every water sample. Results In the rural areas, most drinking water sources were ground water and the type of water supply was mainly non-central water supply. The indexes that exceeded the related standard limit were fluoride,arsenic and bacteria indicators. The hygienic state of central water supply was much better(?2=4.13, P

Objective　To investigate the relationship between P300 of auditory event-related potential (ERP) and age, sex in healthy people. Methods　Auditory P300 was tested in 60 healthy people of different ages and the results were analyzed by t-test and the linear correlation. Results　The peak-latency (PL) and amplitude (Amp) of P300 were significantly different between the less than 59-year-old group and the more than 60-year-old group. For all subjects tested, age had positive linear correlation with PL of P300 and negative linear correlation with Amp of P300. There is no significantly sex difference in healthy people. Conclusion　There is influence of age on auditory P300. The PL is increased and the Amp is decreased with aging.

Objective To explore the value of P_ 300 in early diagnosis of vascular dementia (VD) and possibility of P_ 300 in the differential diagnosis between VD and Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS) and P_ 300 of oddball auditory evoked model were performed in 20 normal controls,20 patients with VD,24 patients with cerebral infarction without dementia (CI) and 20 patients with AD.Results The peak latency (PL) of target N_2 and P_3 in VD group was obviously longer than those in CI and NC groups,the difference was dramatic(all P

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the procurability and prices of essential medicines in Hubei Xiaogan rural area.METHODS:According to the standard methodology for the investigation of drug prices recommended by the World Health Organization and European Health Action International organization,a survey on the procurability and prices of essential medicines was conducted in 4 hospitals and 3 drugstores in Hubei Xiaogan rural area.RESULTS:The procurability of essential medicines in both hospitals and drugstores was low.The prices of drugs were lower in drugstores than in hospitals.As compared with the international reference prices,the drug prices in drugstores were lower while those in hospitals were higher.The markup ratio in one hospital was far above 15.0%,while those in the other two hospitals were all within 15.0%.CONCLUSION:The procurability of essential medicines in Hubei Xiaogan rural area remains to be increased,and there is space for the reduction of drug prices.

Objective Ouabain is a cardiotonic steroid that can induce the apoptosis of many tumorous cells .This study was to investigate the anti-tumor mechanisms of ouabain by observing its effects on the apoptosis of T lymphoblastic leukemia Jurkat cells and the expressions of hTERT and c-myc mRNA and protein . Methods Jurkat cells were treated with ouabain at the concentrations of 50 and 100 nmol/L for 24 and 48 hours, and those treated with 1 ×PBS served as the control .Then the apoptosis rate of the cells was detected by flow cytometry after Annexin V/PI staining, the expressions of hTERT and c-myc mRNA determined by RT-PCR, and those of hTERT and c-myc protein by Western blot . Results The apoptosis rates of the Jurkat cells in the 50 and 100 nmol/L oua-bain groups were (5.67 ±3.71)%and (9.63 ±4.83)%respectively at 24 hours, and (19.67 ±4.55)%and (37.60 ±11.89)%at 48 hours, significantly higher than (4.23 ±1.01)%in the PBS control group at 48 hours (P<0.05).Compared with the control, the expressions of hTERT and c-myc mRNA were decreased by 200%and those of hTERT and c-myc protein by 224%and 400%, re-spectively, at 48 hours (P<0.05).There was a positive correlation between the reduction of the mRNA levels and that of the protein levels of hTERT and c-myc (P<0.05). Conclusion Ouabain can down-regulate the mRNA and protein expressions of hTERT and c-myc, which may be one of the mechanisms of its induction of the apoptosis of Jurkat T lymphocyte leukemia cells .

Objective To study the effect of phonophoresis on transdermal delivery of sinomenine hydrochloride ( SH ) gel in vitro. Methods Ultrasound at one of two frequencies ( 800 kHz or 1 MHz) was applied with a sonicator with a transducer in this study. The skin of male Sprague-Dawley rats was used as the model and SH gel was used as the ultrasound couplant. The permeation rate of SH was detected using a modified Franz diffusion cell maintained at 32±0.5℃ and filled with 20% polyethylene glycol 400 physiological saline solution. The transdermal phonophoresis experiments were carried out in five groups: Group Ta, f=800 kHz, / = 0.75 W/cm2, t = 10 min:Group Tb,f=1 MHz,I=0.7 W/cm2, t=10 min; Group Tc,f=1 MHz,I=0.35 W/cm2, t=10 min; Group Td,f=800 kHz, I = 1.5 W/cm2, t = 10 min and Group Tc,f=800 kHz, I=1.5 W/cm2,t=5 min. There was also a control group (C) in which the SH was allowed to diffused passively. Samples were withdrawn at the indicated intervals and the concentration of SH was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The transdermal parameters such as average accumulated delivery quantity per unit area Q8h, average transdermal steady delivery rate J, and Tlag were calculated. Results The Q8h and Js of the control group were 20.65±10.23 μ/cm2 and 3.02±0.11μ/cm2/h respectively. The phonophoresis parameters in groups Ta and Tb were, on average, significantly higher than in the control group. The parameters in group Tb were significantly larger, on average, than in Te. In group Td the parameters were significantly larger than in groups Ta and Te. Conclusions The results show that phonophoresis can enhance the transdermal delivery of SH. Phonophoresis variables such as frequency and time influence its effects on drug permeation. Almost no change was observed in the structure of the skin after phonophoresis, though under a scanning electron microscope the surface of the corneum appeared rough and porous. Phonophoresis is there-fore an effective and safe method for SH transdermal delivery, and the effect is positively relation with the applied intensity and exposure time.

We examined the effects of intracerebroventricular ( i. c. v) administration of adrenomedullin (ADM) on catecholaminergic neurons and the expression of c-fos gene in rat brain nuclei involved in cardiovascular regulation using double immunohistochemical method for Fos and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). The results showed that: ( 1 ) Following icy administration of ADM (3 nmol/kg) , double-labeled neurons for Fos and TH were significantly increased in the area postrema ( AP), the nucleus of the solitary tract ( NTS), the nucleus paragigantocelluaris laterialis (PGL) and the locus coeruleus (LC). (2) Pretreatment with calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonis CGRP8-37 (30 nmol/kg) significantly reduced the action of ADM (3 nmol/kg) in the brain. The present study suggested that ADM might activate the neurons of the brain nuclei involved in cardiovascular regulation, and supported the hypothesis that the central action of ADM were induced by activating the catecholaminergic neurons of brainstem nuclei involved in cardiovascular regulation, CGRP receptor might mediate the effects of ADM.

At present, the training pattern in the higher-education institutions of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is still characterized as a trilogy of basic medical theory courses, clinical medical courses and graduation clinic practice, which results in the slow-cultivation of the TCM talent, and brings into the severe problems of theory being divorced from practice and bad social adaptability in the graduates. Under this situation, it is imperative to reform the traditional training patterns and to advocate innovation in the education. It is suggested that creative teachers, students' creative study and a democratic, harmonious, relaxing and easy study atmosphere are helpful to the cultivation of TCM talents. Therefore, a student-orientating training pattern of classroom-teaching synchronized with the clinic practice, emphasizing clinic practice, and aiming to improve the scientific research ability is advocated in higher-education of TCM. This is expected to provide some thoughts for the development of TCM higher education in the new era.