Objective Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is one of the most important methods for evalua-ting the medical students′clinical ability .The aim of this study was to analyze the value of OSCE on practice examination in the depart -ment of cardiothoracic surgery . Methods Through the use of standardized patients and the six-station clinical examination , we as-sessed the clinical skills of interns in the department of cardiothoracic surgery . Results OSCE could appraise interns′clinical ability objectively and accurately , which obtained the recognition from students . Conclusion OSCE is applicable to the clinical skills tes-ting in the department of cardiothoracic surgery .

Objective To study the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children in major cities of China. Method The children aged 1-7 were surveyed with questionnaire in ten cities of our country. Results In a total population of 49 241, there were 1 371 AD patients (768 males and 603 females) discovered. The total prevalence was 2.78%. The prevalence of males and females was 3.03% and 2.53%, respectively, The total standardized prevalence (S.P.) was 3.07%. The male and female S.P. was 3.86% and 2.20%, respectively, the difference being statistically significant (P

Objective To construct multiple myeloma mucin MUC1-2VNTR gene eukaryotic expressing vector,which provided the basic material for further study of multiple myeloma DNA vaccine.Methods MUC1-2VNTR coding gene as target gene,and a KOZAK sequence was inserted before it.Hind Ⅲ and Xba Ⅰ restriction enzyme site were inserted on both ends.Then the whole sequence was synthesized and cloned into pcDNA3.1/myc-his B vector,and the recombinant vector was identified by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing.Results Synthesized MUC1-2VNTR gene was 140 bp.Restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing confirmed pcDNA3.1/MUC1-2VNTR/myc-his B including the whole exact translation frame region and MUC1-2VNTR gene.Condnsion The pcDNA3.1/MUC1-2VNTR/myc-his B has been successfully constructed,which provides the basic material for further studies of MUC1 mucin function and multiple myloma DNA vaccine.

Objective　To explore the effect of dexamethasone (Dex) given with the intention of prevention or treatment on endotoxin shock in rabbits and its relationship with tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Methods　Fifty-three health rabbits were divided into 4 groups, including normal control (n=13), endoxin shock group (n=16), preventive Dex group (n=12) and therapeutic Dex group (n=12). Except normal control was given with saline, the other 3 groups were administered with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infusion, and the preventive Dex group was treated with Dex (5 mg/kg body weight) 30 min before LPS infusion and the therapeutic Dex group 20 min after LPS infusion. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), survival rate, TNF level in circulatory blood and other parameters were detected. Results　In preventive and therapeutic Dex groups, MABP was increased and survival rate was reduced compared with the animals from endoxin shock group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and TNF activity in the circulating blood was significantly suppressed (P<0.01). In addition, dexamethasone administration could alleviate the elevation of plasma glucagon, glucose, lactic acid, and β-glucironidase (P<0.05, P<0.01) in shocked animals. It was also found that administration of dexamethasone in vitro prevented the release of TNF by Kupffer cells. Conclusion　These results indicate that the preventive and therapeutic effect of dexamethasone on endotoxin shock, which may relate to its direct inhibition of the release of TNF induced by LPS.

Cannula ; Catheters ; Drainage ; Duodenal Diseases ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula/surgery*

OBJECTIVETo explore whether there is a relationship between gross tumor volume (GTV) and pathologic lymph node metastasis or prognosis of esophageal carcinoma, and to provide a new prognosis reference for esophageal carcinoma (EC).

METHODSSix hundred and seven patients received radical resection of thoracic esophageal carcinoma from May 2002 to June 2006 in our hospital, and their pre-operative CT images were transmitted to the three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy planning system by the network in digital format. Esophageal GTV targets were outlined and their GTV volumes were calculated. To analyze whether there is a relationship between GTV volume and pathologic lymph node metastasis or prognosis.

RESULTSIn the 607 cases of esophageal carcinoma, the GTV volume was (22.5 ± 16.8) cm(3) in 374 stage N0 EC patients, significantly different from that of (30.4 ± 20.1) cm(3) in 233 stage N1 EC cases (P < 0.001). There is a significant difference between the GTV volumes of the groups with and without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference of the GTV volumes of EC patients with one lymph node metastasis and those with ≥ 4 lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between GTV volume and the number of lymph node metastasis (r = 0.230, P < 0.001). The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates since the surgery date were 83.8%, 53.5%, and 36.4%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the survival rates of stage N0 (48.5%) and stage N1 patients (18.2%, P < 0.001), and there was a significant difference between the survival rats of patients with 0, 1 and ≥ 2 lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). Cox regression model analysis showed that GTV volume, number of lymph node metastasis, pathological type, and lesion site were independent prognostic factors (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe GTV volume of esophageal carcinoma is positively correlated with the number of pathologic lymph node metastasis, and it is an independent prognostic factor for this cancer.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Survival Rate ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tumor Burden

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of Xuebijing injection(XBJI, traditional Chinese medicine), in inhibiting TLR4--NF-kappaB--IL-1beta pathway of myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation in rats.

METHODSThirty six male SD rats (280 +/- 30) g were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6): normal group (N group), balanced perfusion group (BP group), model group (M group), low dose XBJI group (XBJI(L) group), middle dose XBJI group (XBJI(M) group), high dose XBJI group (XBJI(H) group). By Langendorff isolated heart perfusion device to establish the model of myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation in rats. ELISA was used to detect the concentration of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta); Western blot was used to detect the expression of nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-kappaB p65) protein and toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) protein; and RT-PCR to determine the expression of NF-kappaB p65 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA;To observe microstructure changes of hypoxia/reoxygenation myocardial by light microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with M group, the IL-1beta concentration, NF-kappaB p65 and TLR4 protein,NF-kappaB p65 and TLR4 mRNA of XBJIL group, XBJI(M) group, XBJI(H) group expression decreased in varying degrees,and decreased most obviously all in XBJI(M) group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); Myocardical structural damage was serious in M group, and improved after treatment XBJI, the most obvious was the XBJI(M).

CONCLUSIONDifferent dose of XBJI can inhibit TLR4--NF-kappaB--IL-1beta signal transduction pathway and reduce several inflammatory reaction after myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, the 4 ml/100 ml of XBJI is the best.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo examine the activities of transcription factors (TFs) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines with different metastatic potentials, so as to identify the TFs associated with HCC metastasis.

METHODSTranscription factor activity profile of Hep3B, MHCC97L and MHCC97H, three HCC cell lines with different metastatic potentials, were examined using protein/DNA array. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) and Western blot were used to confirm the results obtained by protein/DNA array.

RESULTSFrom a total of 345 screened TFs, 7 activity differential TFs were found, of which 5 showed increased activity, including p53, hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) and Sp1, and 2 showed decreased activity including Rb and Smad3.

CONCLUSIONThe abnormal functioning of transcription factors is closely associated with HCC metastasis. Our present findings could be of help in expanding our understanding of the mechanism of HCC metastasis and identify new predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Protein Array Analysis ; Transcription Factors ; classification ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of Xuebijing Injection (XBJI) in inhibiting inflammatory factors associated with anoxia/reoxygenation myocardial inflammatory response of rats.

METHODSTotally 36 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, 280 ± 30 g were randomly divided into six groups, i.e., the normal control group (N group), the balanced perfusion group (BP group),the model group (M group),the low dose XBJI group (XBJI(L) group), the middle dose XBJI group (XBJI(M) group),and the high dose XBJI group (XBJI(H) group), 6 in each group. The myocardial anoxia/reoxygenation rat model was established by Langendorff isolated heart perfusion. The concentration of TNF-α in the myocardial tissue was detected by ELISA. The expression of nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) protein and Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) protein were detected using Western blot. The expression of NF-κB p65 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. Ultrastructural changes of anoxia-reoxygenation rats' heart muscle were observed under transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSCompared with the M group,the TNF-α concentration, expression levels of NF-κB p65 protein and mRNA, TLR4 protein and mRNA decreased to various degrees in the XBJI(L) group, the XBJI(M) group, and the XBJI(H) group. The TNF-α expression level decreased most significantly in the XBJI(L), group (P < 0.01), while other indices decreased most obviously in the XBJI(M) group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Expression levels of NF-κB p65 and TLR4 protein were obviously lower in the XBJI(M) group than in the XBJI(L) group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in other indices among the three XBJI groups (P > 0.05). Myocardial fibers were loose and broken with disappearance of transverse striation, and mitochondrial cristae was dissolved and severely damaged in the M group. The aforesaid condition was improved after treated by XBJI, with the most obvious effect obtained in the XBJI(M) group.

CONCLUSIONSDifferent doses of XBJI could attenuate inflammatory reactions after myocardial anoxia/reoxygenation rats' heart muscle through inhibiting TLR4-NF-κB-TNF-α signal transduction pathway. The best effect could be obtained by 4 mL/100 mL XBJI.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hypoxia ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

A new phenylpropanoid (1), together with seven known ones (2-8), has been isolated from the flowers of Rosa rugosa collected from Shanxi province by using various chromatographic techniques. Compound 1 is a new compound, and it displayed cytotoxicity against NB4, SH-SY5Y, PC3, A549 and MCF7 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 8.2, 6.2, 4.3, 2.8, and 9.6 µmol · L⁻¹ respectively.
Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Phenylethyl Alcohol ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Rosa ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization