AIM: To study the role of adrenomedullin(AM) in the pathogenesis of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. METHODS: Rats were exposed to chronic hypoxia for 14 days. After the measurement of the right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), the rats were executed. The weight of the right ventricle (RV), the left ventricle(LV) and the ventricular septum(SP) were determined. The ration RV/(LV+SP) was used to express the thickness of RV. In situ hybridization was used for the detection of the expression of AM mRNA in the lung and RV. RESULTS: The RVSP in the hypoxic group was (63.63?3.42) mmHg,which was significantly higher than that in control group [(34.13?3.40) mmHg]. The RV/(LV+SP) in hypoxic group was 0.439?0.039,which was increased obviously when compared with that of control (0.230?0.025). The level of AM mRNA expressed in the RV in the hypoxia group was significantly higher than that in the control group. CONCLUSION: The expression of AM mRNA in RV increased in the hypoxic condition, which suggests that AM may attenuate the inappropriate increase in pulmonary artery pressure.

X-ray cephalometry was used to analyze craniofacial morphology in 32 males and 23 females with operated cleft palate. They underwent primary palatoplasty at the ages of 4 to 7 years and examination at the age of 18 to 25 years old. The cephalometric data were compared with that of the native Hubei adults with normal occlusions. The results indicated the cranial base in the cleft group was morphologically similar to that of the normal controls, there were a decreased angle of skeletal facial convexity, a shorter maxilla, an increased gonial angle and a more open mandibular plane angle in the clefts. All of these differences were significant. Surgical treatments at the age of 4 to 7 years old could cause craniofacial deformities at adults.

Molecular-targeted therapy is a new method and tendency in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To date, sorafinib, a multi-targeted gent, is the only one proved to be effective in improving the survival of patients with advanced HCC. Sorafinib is also the first line systemic agent for advanced HCC. Other multi-targeted agents, such as sunitinib, are also proved to be effective. Erlotinib, gefitinib and eetuximab, which target epidermal growth factor receptor, show effectiveness but still need further investigation. Bevacizumab, which targets vascular endothelial growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, shows excellent results and deserves more clinical trials. The effects of bortezomib, sirolimus and imatinib, which target other pathways, are still under investigation. The future studies of molecular-targeted therapy for HCC should be focused on the combination of different targeted medicine, and combination of molecular-targeted therapy and chemotherapy, as well as individualized therapy.

Objetive:To analyze the fixation methods and sites in treatment of zygomatic complex fractures of 152 patients. Methods:The clinical data of 152 patients from 1990 to 2004 were investigated and analyzed, which focused on the changing trend of etiology and treatment methods. Results:Traffic accident was the primary reason for zygomatic complex fractures in China.152 patients received primary, timely reduction and fixation; Scalp coronal incision in combination with other incisions or alone was applied in 108 patients, the rest were treated by single local incisions. Rigid internal fixation was applied in 123 cases, and the single application of transosseous wire fixation was performed in 22 patients. 328 Ti plates were used. As to the fixation sites, 96 were applied at the zygomatic-frontal suture, 45 plates at zygomatic-maxillary suture and zygomatic crest, 92 plates at zygomatic-temporal suture, and 95 plates across the fracture line. Conclusion:Scalp coronal incision in combination with other incisions or alone can provide satisfactory outcome. Early, timely reduction and rigid internal fixation may result in better treatment results. The sites are focused at zygomatic-frontal suture, zygomatic-maxillary suture and zygomatic crest, zygomatic-temporal suture and the fracture line which restore the horizontal and vertical force route.

Objective To examine the effect of target muscle injection with different dosages of Methycobal in the sciatic nerve regeneration of adult rats so as to determine a better method and proper dosage of Methycobal for clinical treatment of peripheral nerve injury. Methods A total of 30 healthy Wistar rats were employed to make sciatic nerve injury model through immediate suture of the adventitia posterior to transection of the left sciatic nerve. The rats were divided randomly into three groups, ie, high dosage group (Methycobal for 300 ?g/kg, Group A), low dosage group (Methycobal for 100 ?g/kg, Group B) and control group (1 ml normal saline once a day, Group C),10 rats in each group. At 4 and 8 weeks, 5 rats from each group were taken to observe the effect of different dosages of Methycobal on rat sciatic nerve regeneration, where the detection indices included morphological changes and image analysis of sciatic nerves by optic and electron microscopic investigations as well as tricipital muscle wet weight. Results Four weeks after operation, tricipital muscle wet weight was (1.367?0.012) g in the Group A, (1.164? 0.011) gin the Group B and (0.950?0.009) g in the Group C, with significant difference among groups A, B and C (P

Objective To deal with measurements of the relative convexity, to observe the morphological characteristics of zygoma and zygomatic arch, and to provide references for anthropology and medical science. Methods 108 dry skulls (62 male and 46 female) from Wuhan University Medical School were used, the zygomatic relative convexity of both sides were measured, and the morphological characteristics were observed in this study. Results Zygomatic process point lied in the middle of zygoma in horizontal direction, and situated 15-20 mm below the external middle 1/3 of infra-orbital margin. The zygomatic arch was anterolateral convexity, and face width in male was bigger than that in female. Conclusion The relative convexity and morphological characteristics of zygoma and zygomatic arch provide

Objective To explore the effect of mental nursing intervention on gastric cancer with liver metastasis patients treated with TACE sequential chemotherapy.Methods Sixty four gastric cancer patients with liver metastasis,no hopes of accepting operations,were included.All patients were divided into control group (32 cases) and observation group (32 cases).The former received routine nursing care and the later received extra mental nursing intervention.The anxiety,depression and quality of life in both groups were evaluated and compared.Results After extra mental nursing intervention,the SDS and SAS scores of the observation group [(41.6 ± 1.8) points and (41.6 ± 2.3) points] were significantly lower than those of the control group [(50.9 ± 1.9) points and (53.0 ± 3.5) points,P =0.040,P =0.036,respectively].The quality of life scores,including the physiological function,body pain,general self rating,vitality,social function,emotional function and mental health score were (45.26 ± 38.26)points vs (35.17 ± 33.65) points (P =0.044),(71.98 ± 17.36) points vs (63.01 ± 18.41) points (P =0.039),(55.59 ± 12.78) points vs (49.67 ± 12.43) points (P =0.048),(74.82 ± 14.23) points vs (55.61 ± 10.58) points (P =0.027),(75.47 ± 12.15) points vs (57.22 ± 14.78) points (P =0.031),(70.24 ± 22.00) points vs (45.92 ± 34.76) points (P =0.004),(78.31 ± 19.11) points vs (67.23 ± 11.96) points (P =0.037),respectively,the scores in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The extra mental nursing intervention on gastric cancer with liver metastasis patients,treated with TACE sequential chemotherapy,can not reduce the patients'negative mood,improve the patients'compliance with chemotherapy and the confidence to treatment,but improve the quality of patients'life effectively.

An analysis of the fundamental concepts for public hospital reform further defined public hospitals and other hospitals,business and non-business in nature,public benefits and welfare,as well as public benefits and profit-oriented hospitals.These distinctions can help reformers of public hospitals clarify their concepts,make clear the purpose and direction of the public hospitals reform,so as to speed up the reform with theory support.

This paper studied the development stages in terms of the public nature of public hospitals in China and analyzed the causes for their weakened public benefits.It proposed the principle of government guidance,achieving government purchasing of healthcare services as the roadmap,as well as building and improving the service purchasing system,performance appraisal system,and payment review system along with supervision system.These measures are designed to make public hospitals in their public benefit nature with scientific system design,powerful institutional guarantee,and efficient execution strategies.

Objective:This paper aimed to investigate the effects of isocorydinone on cell proliferation in SiHa human cervical carcinoma cell lines. Methods:Different concentrations of isocorydione (100, 200, 400, 800, and 1200 μmol/L) were used to treat SiHa human cervical carcinoma cells in vitro for 24, 48, and 72 h. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assays were conducted to determine the inhibitory action of isocorydione. Flow cytometry was performed to detect the cell cycle in SiHa human cervical carcinoma cells af-ter treatment with 400 μmol/L isocorydione. Hoechst 33342 staining was used to observe the micro-morphological changes of SiHa cell nucleus after the treatment. The expression of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 proteins in cervical carcinoma SiHa cell lines was determined using western blot analysis. Results: MTT assays showed that isocorydione inhibits the proliferation of SiHa cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P<0.05). The flow cytometry results showed that SiHa cervical carcinoma cells treated with different concen-trations of isocorydione exhibited increased cell cycle. Compared with the control group, Hoechst 33342 staining showed that SiHa cells became narrow, with nuclear pyknosis and fragmentation, and formed an apoptotic body after treatment with 400 μmol/L isocoryd-ione for 48 h. Furthermore, western blot analysis proved that isocorydione significantly inhibited the proliferation of SiHa cell lines, and the expression of Bax protein was increased. By contrast, the expression of Bcl-2 protein decreased gradually. Consequently, the ra-tio of Bax/Bcl-2 increased, as well as the expression of caspase-3 protein. Conclusion:Isocorydione exhibited an overt inhibitory ac-tion on SiHa cells. Isocorydione promoted the occurrence of cell apoptosis, which may be associated with related proteins of mitochon-drial apoptotic pathway.