Objective To detect the serum level of complement 1q (C1q) and anti-C1q autoantibodies (C1qAb) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients to analyze the correlation of serum level of C1q and C1qAb with renal lesion and disease activity in SLE. Methods The serum level of C1q and C1qAb were detected by single radial lmnmnodiffusion and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively. Results The serum level of C1q in SLE patients was significantly lower than that of the control groups. The serum level of C1qAb in SLE patients was significantly higher than that of the control groups. There was a strong correlation between the serum level of C1q and C1qAb in SLE patients. SLE patients in flare stage showed a significantly higher level of serum C1qAb and a lower level of serum C1q than stable patients. Lupus nephritis(LN) patients showed a significantly higher level of serum C1qAb and a lower level of serum C1q than non-LN patients. Conclusions Low level of serum C1q and the high level of serum C1qAb are correlated with SLE. The serum level of C1q and C1qAb are significantly correlated with renal lesion and disease activity of SLE patients.

This study based on an ethical review of the kidney donation from a young man to his elder relative.We discuss the problems existing in present field of intra-vital organ transplantations,as well as its risk and the ethics review mode.It is recommended that ethics review is performed as a complete procedure,which should not only present in certain format,but also emphasize weighing the advantages and disadvantages of both patients and donors;intra-vital organ transplantations between relatives should also follow the principle of "no compensation and non-commercialization";hospitals should give out the judgment under sufficient considerations of both patients' and donors' benefits within the scope of laws,as well as taking into account of other factors such as prospective outcome of the operations,rather than barely basing on the risk probabilities.

Objective To explore the histocompatibility and plasticitity of hydroxyapatite/high-density polyethylene composite (HMPE). Design Experimental study. Participants Forty-five rabbits. Methods Rabbits were randomly devided into HA/PE, HA and PE surgical groups, every group included 15 rabbits. Osteoeetomy of orbital rim and implantation (HA/PE, HA and PE materials were used) were performed on 3 groups of the rabbits. At 1st week, 4th week, 8th week, 12th week and 24th week of postoperation, we took out the samples from the rabbits separately in each group and did histopathologic and electron microscope examinations. Main Outcome Measures Physical signs of the implant combination with the bone. The bone cell appeared in the implants. Results After 12 weeks, the calcium salts deposit like bone plate with some osteoblast inside the HA/PE implants was observed. After 8 weeks, the calci- um salts deposit inside the HA plants was observed. In the PE implants, nothing could be seen but some fibrous connective tissue. Conclusion HMPE is an ideal repair material especially for orbital bone.

Objective To describe the clinical features of convulsive status epileptieus (CSE) in our hospital and to provide a basis for future CSE prevention and treatment. Methods Patients with CSE hospitalized from January 1996 to October 2007 were prospectively observed. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of prognosis. Results All 220 eases of CSE were prospeetively analyzed, a hundred and two patients(46.4%) originated from rural areas. The primary cause of CSE was central nervous system(CNS)infectian (72cases, 32.7%), followed by discontinuation or reduction of antiepileptie drugs (AEDs, 35 cases,15.5%). The median duration of CSE was 5 hours and median duration of seizures before treatment was 2 hours; both were longer in rural patients (7.0 and3.5 hours respectively) than in urban patients (3.0 and 2.0 hours, Z=-3.433,-1.558,both P<0.05). The fatality rate by the time of discharge was 15.9%. Logistic regression analysis showed that the duration of CSE (χ2=20.941), a history of epilepsy (χ2=4.910), and respiratory depression (χ2=16.086) were independent predictors of CSE prognosis (allP<0.05) . Comparisons between these data of USA and Europe were made. Conclusions CSE occurs mostly in rural population and epilepsy patients. CNS infection and withdrawal or reduction of AEDs in patients with epilepsy were important triggers of CSE. Antiepileptic therapy for status epilepticus in China falls behind that in the European countries.

Insertion of foreign genes into the genome map of Chinese herb always produces the intended beneficial effects, but also the unintended effects. Analysis of genomic function and metabolic end products based on the principle of substantial can reveal the influence on the quality of herbs, which is able to provide valuable refer-ence for the following evaluation on pharmacology and toxicology.

ObjectiveToinvestigatetheeffectsofcaveolin1(Cav1)onexpressionsofproinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1βand IL-6 in the ischemic cortex after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice. Methods The Cav-1 knockout mice (n=40) and wild-type mice (n=40) were randomly divided into ischemia groups and sham operation groups (n=20 in each group). They w ere also redivided into ischemia or sham operation at 3, 7, 10 and 14 d time points ( n=5 in each time point). A permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion model w as induced by the suture method. Immunohistochemical method w as used to detect the expressions of IL-1βand IL-6 in the ischemic cortex. Results The expression levels of IL-1βand IL-6 in the ischemic cortex at each time point in the ischemia group in Cav1 knockout mice w ere significantly higher than those in the ischemia group in the w ild-type mice ( al P< 0.05 ). Conclusions The upregulations of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1βand IL-6 in the ischemic cortex in Cav1 knockout mice suggests that Cav1 plays an important role in aleviating inflammation after cerebral ischemia.

The source of seed cells has always been the major problem in cartilage tissue engineering.Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have gradually become an optimal source of seed cells for cartilage engineering due to their high proliferative potential,multi-lineage differentiation potential and easiness to be obtained with minute trauma.The great challenge is how to get abundant BMSCs with a high purity and how to induce them in vitro into chondrogenic phenotype.This review aims to discuss the various strategies that can induce BMSCs chondrogenic differentiation in vitro so as to offer beneficial reference for constructing cartilage with BMSCs as seed cells.

Articular cartilage defects are commonly found in clinics. It is always a great challenge for the repair of cartilage defects due to the limited self-regeneration after injury. Tissue engineering,a newly emerging biotechnique to regenerate cartilage with chondrogenic potential cells and biodegradable scaffolds in vivo and in vitro,provides a promising method to solve the challenge in cartilage defects repair. To regenerate cartilage with favourable structure and function,it is essential to gain a deep insight into the biochemical structure,biomechanical property and their relationship of articular cartilage. This article gives an introduction to the biochemical structure,biomechanical property and their relationship of both native and tissue-engineered cartilage.

This study examined the relationship between PDGF-induced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and Nur77 expression and the effect of atorvastatin on VSMC proliferation and Nur77 in PDGF-treated VSMCs. Rat VSMCs were isolated and cultured. After incubation with atorvastatin or Nur77 siRNA, the cells were stimulated with PDGF and detected for BrdU incorporation to measure the proliferation of the VSMCs. Quantitative PCR and Western blotting were used to determine the Nur77 protein and the CREB phosphorylation level, to observe their relations with PDGF-induced VSMC proliferation. Our results showed that PDGF increased the BrdU incorporation in VSMCs, suggesting that it induced the proliferation of the cells. The VSMC proliferation was associated with increased Nur77 expression and elevated CREB phosphorylation. Atorvastatin inhibited the PDGF-induced VSMC proliferation, suppressed Nur77 expression. After silencing of Nur77 gene, the PDGF-induced VSMC proliferation was decreased. It was concluded that PDGF-induced VSMC proliferation was related to the Nur77 expression and CREB phosphorylation. Atorvastatin reduced the Nur77 expression and, at the same time, inhibited the VSMC proliferation.

Objective This study seeks to use a meta-analytical approach to quantitatively assess the results of applying the problem-based learning(PBL) teaching model and the traditional lecture-based learning(LBL)teaching model to basic medical courses in undergraduate medical edu-cation. Methods The CNKI and VIP databases were electronically searched to retrieve randomised controlled trial studies that examined the use of PBL methods for basic medical courses in under-graduate medical education. In these studies PBL teaching model was used in experiment group and LBL teaching model was used in control group. Pass rate or test scores was used to evaluate the effect of learning. The retrieved documents ranged from the time that each database was first constructed to December 2012. After two researchers performed literature screening independently, data extraction, and quality assessment procedures in strict accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria of this study, the Stata 11.0 software package was utilized to conduct the meta-analysis. Results This meta-analysis examined 28 studies that included a total of 3703 subjects. The modified Jadad scores of 20 studies(71.4%) were less than 4, and those of 8 studies(28.6%) were more than or equal to 4. The meta-analysis revealed that compared with the traditional teaching model, the PBL teaching model did not produce improved examination passing rates for a course [relative risk(RR):1.05, 95%confidence interval(CI):(0.99, 1.10), P=0.098] but could improve examination scores for a course [standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.73, 95% CI: (0.51, 0.96), P<0.001]. Conclusion For basic medical courses in undergraduate medical education, compared to LBL teaching, PBL teaching can improve students' test scores but cannot improve students' pass rate. PBL used in basic medical courses has di-versified forms and lacks unified criterion, so there is still a long way to go for the appli-cation of PBL.