Soluble ST2 (sST2) is a decoy receptor of IL-33 in blood.sST2and ST2L (receptor on cell membrane) seem to be markedly induced in mechanically overloaded cardiac myocytes,especially the expression of sST2.A large number of sST2 bind IL-33 thus subtracting IL-33 from the interaction with ST2L,potentially attenuating the cardioprotective effects of IL-33/ST2L pathway.Recently,sST2 has emerged as a novel for heart failure biomarker.Though sST2 was a less robust marker for the diagnosis of heart failure than NT-proBNP,it has been implicated in the prognostication of patients with acute dyspnea,acute or chronic heart failure and myocardial infarction,with particular value for mid-and long-term prognosis.However,further studies are needed in order to better point out the evidence for a routine use of sST2 evaluation in patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the feasibility of defined individual treatment course as evaluation index of rational use of drugs.METHODS:The doses of antibiotics and treatment course in 63 patients with type Ⅰ incision operation of our hospital in Jan.2010 were taken as examples.Case analysis,DUI evaluation and defined individual treatment course evaluation were adopted.Similar results were obtained by 3 kinds of methods.RESULTS&CONCLUSION:Results of 3 kinds of methods are consistent.DUI evaluation isn't closely associated with treatment course.Defined individual treatment course is more sensitive and available than DUI based on the introduction of dose and treatment course.

AIM: To investigate the hypothesis that low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) regulates in vitro cytotrophoblast invasiveness and production of metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinas-2 (TIMP-2). METHODS: Chorionic villi tissue of normal 6-8 weeks pregnancy was obtained. Trophoblastic cells were collected by trypsin-collagenase digestion and Percoll gradient centrifugation. The cytotrophoblastic cells were cultured for 24 h and divided into 4 groups according to the concentrations (1.0×10~2 IU/L, 1.0×10~3 IU/L or 1.0×10~4 IU/L) of LMWH adding into the medium. The contents of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in cell culture supernatants were measured by the method of ELISA. Cytotrophoblast invasiveness was determined by Transwell chamber assay. RESULTS: With the increasing concentrations of LMWH, the invasion activity of cytotrophoblastic cells and MMP-2 secretion were increased. At concentration of 1.0×10~3IU/L, LMWH greatly enhanced cytotrophoblast invasiveness and the expression of MMP-2 (P<0.05). The levels of TIMP-2 were decreased after intervention with LMWH. At concentration of 1.0×10~3IU/L or 1.0×10~4 IU/L, LMWH induced a significant decrease in TIMP-2 expression. No significant difference between group 1×10~3IU/L and group 1.0×10~4 IU/L was observed (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: LMWH might regulate cytotrophoblast invasiveness in vitro by influencing the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in cytotrophoblastic cells.

Objective To determine the effects of enflurane and isoflurane on the spontaneous neural discharge of central amygdaloid nucleus in rats Methods SD rats (30 60 d) of either sex were decapitated Brain was immediately removed and kept in 4℃ artificial cerebral spinal fluid(ACSF) which was balanced with 95% O 2 and 5% CO 2 gas mixture Braine tissue containing central amyfdaloid nucleus was cut into slices of 300 400?m thick which were immersed in ACSF Enflurane and isoflurane were administered by balancing ACSF with enflurane (1 5%,3 0%,4 5%) or isoflurane (1 1%,2 2%,3 3%) The spontaneous neural discharge of central amygdaloid nucleus was measured before and after enflurane or isoflurane using whole cell patch clamp techniques Results Enflurane and isoflurane inhibited the frequencies of spontaneous neural discharge of central amygdaloid nucleus in a dose dependent manner The spontaneous neural discharge inhibited by enflurane (3 0%) and isoflurane (2 2%) could recover after the slices being washed with normal ACSF for 5 min Conclusions The results indicate that the spontaneous neural discharge of central amygdaloid nucleus can be inhibited reversibly by enflurane and isoflurane Central amygdaloid nucleus may by one of the sites of action of enflurane and isoflurane in central nervous system

BACKGROUND: The full three-dimensional finite element model can not only establish a realistic three-dimensionalmodel, but also can simulate the osteotomy on the model. Analysis of biomechanics guides the clinical operation.OBJECTIVE: To establish a three-dimensional finite element model of ankylosing spondylitis kyphosis and provide an effective digital platform for further studies.METHODS: A 30-year-old male patient with ankylosing spondylitis kyphosis participated voluntarily in the current study. CTimages obtained from CT transverse scanning from C1 to the sacrococcyx were imported into Mimics 17.0 software toestablish a three-dimensional geometric model of the posterior spine. The geometric model was then imported into Studio Geomagic 2013 software. For the subsequent optimization of image processing, the posterior spine convex geometry wasestablished on the three-dimensional geometric model. We used Unigraphics NX 8.5 to establish the spinal kyphosis surfacemodel, then added modeling of calcification of the ligaments, partial resection of useless sacral bone, and finally, imported themodel into ANSYS 15.0 finite element analysis software, then added the ligaments and set the parameters of the material,generating a complete three-dimensional finite element model of ankylosing spondylitis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A three-dimensional finite element model of complete ankylosing spondylitis wassuccessfully established. Using the ten-node approach, we generated 398370 tetrahedral elements, and 668538 nodes.This will provide a reliable digital platform for the next step of biomechanical analysis.

Objective To observe the expression of cysteine rich-protein 61 (Cyr61) on renal tubular cells,to explore its effects against hypoxic induced kidney injury and the underlying mechanisms.Methods A stably Cyr61 expressed tubular cell line Cyr61-HK2 was established based on HK2 cells and recombinant Cyr61-lentivirus.BrdU incorporation assay was used for cell proliferation.The apoptosis of cells was analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin V and propidiumiodide staining.Western bloting was used to detect the protein expression of BAD,Akt and ERK.Results (1) Cyr61-HK2 cells displayed more proliferation ability than HK2 cells.(2) Under hypoxia condition,the apoptosis of both HK2 and Cyr61-HK2 cells increased,but the apoptosis of Cyr61-HK2 cells was lesser than HK2 cells.(3) The expression of Cyr61 led to the phosphorylation of BAD,Akt and ERK on 0 h,0.5 h,1 h (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The expression of Cyr61 can promote cell proliferation and dampen cell apoptosis induced by hypoxia,which may be involved in the Akt/ERK signal pathway.

AIM: To observe the changes of transient receptor potential channel 5 (TRPC5) in vascular smooth muscle cells ( VSMCs) of apolipoprotein E-knockout ( ApoE-/-) mice and the effect of atorvastatin interference, and to investigate the mechanism of atorvastatin therapy.METHODS:Male ApoE-/-mice at 6 weeks of age were used to establish the atherosclerosis model by feeding with hyperlipidic diet.The mice were randomly divided into model group and atorvastatin group.The mice in atorvastatin group were lavaged with atorvastatin at 20 mg· kg-1 · d-1 , while the mice in model group received normal saline.The healthy C57BL/6J mice with the same age and the same genetic background, feeding with ordinary food, served as control group.At the time points of 14 and 24 weeks, the mice were sacrificed.The serum was collected for detecting the lipid levels.The aortic roots of the heart were taken to make paraffin sections with HE staining for measuring and comparing the relative atherosclerotic plaque area in each section.The expression of TRPC5 in VSMCs was examined with immunohistochemical staining.The mRNA levels of TRPC5 in the serum and the thoracoabdom-inal aorta were measured by real-time PCR.RESULTS: Compared with model group, blood lipids in atorvastatin group were significantly decreased, and the formation of plaque under aorta intima also decreased.The protein expression of TR-PC5 in atorvastatin group decreased significantly compared with model group.Compared with 20-week model group, TRPC5 in 30-week model group showed increasing tendency, but has no statistical significance.Compared with 20-week atorvasta-tin group, TRPC5 of 30-week atorvastatin group declined.CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin suppresses TRPC5 expression, thus attenuating atherosclerotic development in ApoE-/-mice.

Objective To evaluate the performance of a DNA microarray method for detecting HBV antiviral drug-resistant mutations. Methods Two hundred and twenty four serum samples from patients with CHB were tested in parallel by DNA microarray and direct sequencing for the mutations within the HBV reverse transcriptase (rt) region, which included rtL180, rtA181, rtM204 and rtN236. Samples with discrepant results were retested by clonal sequencing. Results Complete concordance between DNA microarray and direct sequencing results was observed in 214 out of 224 samples (95. 5% ). The presence of mixed viral populations in the other 10 samples detected by DNA microarray but not by direct sequencing was confirmed by clonal analysis. The DNA microarray could detect minor viral populations which constituted 5.0%-15. 0% of the total viral load. Conclusion DNA microarray is highly consistent with direct sequencing in detecting HBV mutations conferring drug resistance and more sensitive in detecting mixed mutant and wild-type sequences than direct sequencing, which makes it a useful tool for early detection of drug resistance early.

To adapt the requirement of Chinese education development, and to abandon the defects of two semester system, such as too-long semester, inflexible curriculum, and restricting personality devel-opment of students, Xi'an Jiaotong University has performed semester reform for reforming the contents and methods of the teaching, promoting the innovation ability of students, and improving the quality of the scholastic education since 2013. In the current study, we have attempted to demonstrate the benefits of the semester reform for promoting the innovation ability of students, and to reveal the active role of the semester reform through comparing the presentation of medical undergraduate students in the national competition of innovation training for medical undergraduate students. Overall, the results of our analysis have supported the semester reform, and provided the reference information for the semester reforms of Chinese universities.

With the arrival of SoloMo era and the change of users need, the passive service has changed to active service in libraries in order to increase the use of their resources. After the SoloMo concept was described, the bar-riers in users of medical libraries were investigated with questionnaires, the strategies for SoloMo innovative service and change of traditional service patterns in medical libraries were elaborated in order to provide personal service for the users at anytime and anywhere.