Objective:To investigate the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) expression in specimens of pancreas cancer tumor and para-cancerous tissues and its prognostic value.Methods:The tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the MeCP2 expression in 59 cases of pancreatic cancer tumor tissues and 53 adjacent normal tissues. The correlation between the MeCP2 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of pancreas cancer patients was analyzed. Furthermore, the survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox regression hazards model was used to study the prognostic value of MeCP2 expression in pancreas cancer.Results:The MeCP2 positive expression rate in 59 pancreas cancer tumor tissues was 47.5%, which was 67.9% in 53 adjacent tissues. The MeCP2 positive expression rate in adjacent tissues was obviously higher than that in pancreatic cancer tissues, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The MeCP2 positive expression was significantly associated with pathological grade and lymph node metastasis(both P<0.05). The overall survival in patients positive for the MeCP2 expression was longer than that in those with negative MeCP2 expression( P<0.05). Cox multivariate analysis demonstrated that the level of MeCP2 expression was an independent predictor for prognosis in patients with pancreas cancer. Conclusions:MeCP2 is obviously positively expressed in para-cancerous tissues, but was lowly expressed in pancreatic cancer, indicating that MeCP2 detection can help to evaluate the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) can relieve myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Because adrenomedulin(Adm) and CGRP share certain structural homology, it is assumed that Adm might have protective effect on myocardium.OBJECTIVE: To investigate Adm' s inhibitory effect on vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression in ischemia-reperfusion rats and its protective effect on myocardial ischemia.DESIGN: A randomized paired design using ischemia-reperfusion model of SD rats.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted in the Experimental Animal Center of Xianning Medical College from December 2003 to May 2004. Twenty-four healthy male SD rats were selected.METHODS: The hearts of the rats were removed to make into ischemia-reperfusion model and then randomized to control group, Adm1-50(1× 10-9) mol/L group, Adm1-50(1 × 10-8) mol/L group and Adm1-50(1 × 10-7) mol/L group. After the hearts underwent ischemia for 60 minutes, the hearts in control group were reperfused with oxygenation Kerbs-Henseleit bicarbonate(KHB) for 60 minutes while those in the other three groups had reperfusion with oxygenation KHB and Adm1-50( 1 × 10-9),(1 × 10-8), and(1 × 10-7) mol/L, respectively, for 15 minutes and KHB perfusion for another 45 minutes. The liquid flowing from the coronary artery was collected, and the content of creatine kinase isoenzyme was detected. Myocardium in the left ventricle was collected for RNA extraction, and the expression of VCAM-1m RNA was determined with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The expression of myocardial VCAM-1mRNA in control group and groups of different concentrations of Adm1-50.RESULTS: After electrophoresis, each group was found to have an obvious amplified band at 194bp, which was GADPH mRNA amplified segment, and the expression of GADPH mRNA in each group was the same. VCAM-1 mRNA amplified segment with strong brightness and clear border was found at 334bp in control group and Adml-50 (1 × 10-9) mol/L group. The brightness of VCAM-1 mRNA amplified band decreased significantly in Adm1-50(1 × 10-8) mol/L group whereas slight brightness and obscure amplified band was found in Adm1-50(1 × 10-7) mol/L group. The gray value of amplified VCAM-1mRNA and GAPDH mRNA in Adm1-50(1 × 10-8)group and(1 × 10-7) mol/L group was 0.6 ±0.31 and 0.5 ±0.36, respectively, which was obviously lower than that in control group( 1.2 ± 0. 52) ( P＜ 0. 05).CONCLUSION: Adm1-50 may inhibit the expression of myocardial VCAM-1mRNA in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in a dose-dependent manner.

Aim To study the protective effect of the compound flavones on chronic alcohol induced testicu-lar damage in mice. Methods One hundred SPF C57 BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups:normal control group, chronic alcohol group, alcohol+low-dose drug group, alcohol+high dose drug group, and drug control group. Chronic alcohol testicular inju-ry model in mice was established by intragastric admin-istration of increasing dose of alcohol every four weeks for 6 months, meanwhile compound flavone interven-tion was in process. The activity of super oxide dis-mutase( SOD) , the levels of malondialdehyde( MDA) and testosterone in testicular tissue were measured. HE staining was used to observe testicular histomorpholo-gy, and ultrastructure changes were detected by elec-tron microscope. Results In chronic alcohol group, MDA content was obviously increased, while SOD and testosterone levels were decreased compared with nor-mal control group ( P <0. 05 ) . In addition, germinal epithelium, support cells and sperm production at all levels showed degraded degeneration in chronic alcohol group. However, compound flavonoids could success-fully reverse alcohol-induced testicular damage in a dose-dependent way. Conclusion The compound of flavones may have therapeutic potential for alcohol-in-duced testicular injury through inhibiting lipid peroxi-dation and increasing the level of testosterone.

Aim To investigate the influences on the aortal structure of rats with long-term high fat forages diet.Methods 14 SD rats were divided into two groups:the control group and the test group. The test rats were fed with high fat forages.12 weeks later, the aortas of the rats were observed with a light microscope, transmission electron microscope(TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM).Results In the test group, the aortic tunica intima thickening, endotheliocyte injury and monocyte adhesion were found with a light microscope; the elastic lamina being broken and the smooth muscle cells proliferated. Under TEM, the endothelial cell membrane of the aorta in the test rats was destroyed and appeared to be worm-eclipsed shape.Mitochondria exhibited swelling,vacuole degeneration and its cristae was dissolved, broken or some disappeared.Rough endoplasmic reticula (RER) expanded. The endothelial cell spaces were enlarged and the cell junctions deformed. Monocytes adhering to the endothelial cell stretched out pseudopodia and intruded into the endothelial crevice and the subendothelial layer. Some basement membranes completely sloughed following with endothelial cell. ERE and ribosomes increased in smooth muscle cells. SEM observation showed that the endothelial cells became swelling and the surface of endothelial cell was worm-eclipsed or crater shape. There were deeper crevices between endothelial cells.Conclusions Long-term high fat forages diet can induce injury of the endothelium and elastic lamina, adhesion of the monocytes and its intrusion into endothelial layer and subendothelial layer, proliferation of the subendothelial layer and smooth muscle in the aorta of rats.

Aim To investigate the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract(EGB)on tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-?)in TNBS-induced colitis in rats and its mechanisms.Methods Colitis in rats was induced by colonic administration with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS).Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups,10 in each:normal group,model group,5-aminosalicylic acid(5-ASA group)and Ginkgo biloba extract group(EGB group).The levels of nitric oxide(NO),and glutathion peroxide(GSH-Px)were measured by biochemical methods.The expressions of TNF-? and nuclear factor kappaBp65(NF-?Bp65)in the colon tissues of colitis rats were detected by means of immunohistochemistry.The expressions of induce nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)in the colon tissues of colitis rats were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The effects of EGB on colonic inflammation and macroscopic and histological damage were evaluated as well.Results Compared with the model group,treatment with EGB for 4 weeks significantly reduced colon macroscopic and histological damage,elevated the activities of GSH-Px and reduced the contents of NO,inhibited the protein expressions of TNF-? andNF-?Bp65,and decreased the mRNA levels of iNOS in the colon tissues of experimental colitis.Conclusions The probable mechanisms of EGB was that it ameliorated inflammatory injury in TNBS-induced colitis in rats by its reduction of TNF-?,NF-?Bp65 and iNOS levels.Then EGB could curb the inflammatory cascade effects of inflammatory mediators to protect ulcerative colitis.

The status of current clinical probation teaching is not satisfactory,so it is essential to establish and perfect clinical teaching mode based on laws and guide students to properly handle the relationship among the internship,employment and preparation for the examination for postgraduates,reform the clinical teaching system,strengthen the training and education of medical ethics and quality,integrate the clinical teaching resources and make full use of clinical cases,as well as strengthen the internship management so as to ensure the quality of teaching of clinical internship.

Funding of research projects within the category of Endemiology (H2401) funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) from 2010-2019 was summarized in this paper. Granted projects were categorized and analyzed based on the funding type, support institute and disease classification. The characteristics and trends of granted projects supported by NSFC were analyzed and summarized in order to provide reference for researchers to apply for projects in the future.

Objective To explore the association between CRP and circadian variation of blood pressure in both hypertensive and normotensive old population.Methods The 82 patients with essential hypertension (EH) and 79 normotensive adults were enrolled in this study. Serum high sensitive CRP (hsCRP) level was tested by fluorescence immunoassay technology. The 24-hour ambulatory monitor of the level and variability of blood pressure was carried out. Multivariable linear regression models were run to adjust the age, gender, body mass index, blood sugar, blood fat,smoking history and baseline blood pressure for analyzing the association between hsCRP and circadian variation of blood pressure.Results ( 1 ) The variability of systolic blood pressure during daytime,nighttime and 24-h our periods were higher in EH group than in control group (P＜0.01 or P＜0. 05), the variabilities of diastolic blood pressure were also significantly higher than in control group (P＜0. 05), the dipping ratios of nocturnal systolic, diastolic and mean artery pressure were all less than in contrast group (all P＜0.05). (2) The hsCRP was obviously higher in EH group than in control group [(5.44± 1.78)mg/L vs. (3.03±0. 72) mg/L, P＜0. 01]. (3) The hsCRP had positive associations with diastolic blood pressure variability during daytime (r= 0. 492, P＜0. 001 ), nighttime (r=0.240, P=0.048), and 24-hour (r=0.271, P=0.030). The variability in diastolic blood pressure predic ted the level of hs CRP(r=0.660, R2=0.436, P＜0.001). (4) In control group, no significant association was found between CRP and variation of blood pressure.Conclusions The BP variability and serum CRP in EH patients are obviously higher than in normotensive patients,however, the nocturnal BP dipping ratio is less than in normotensive patients. Furthermore, the level of serum hsCRP in EH patients is positively associated with the variation of blood pressure, especially for variation of diastolic blood pressure.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of icariin against varicocele-induced damage on rat epididymis. Methods Forty adolescent male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (n=10), experimental varicocele (EV) group (n=15), icariin (ICA) therapy group (n=15). Experimental varicocele model in the EV group and ICA group was established. The EV was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein. The rats in the control group underwent a sham operation that separated the spermatic vessels without ligation. Each rat in the control group and EV group was lavaged with 2 mL physiological saline every day for 6 weeks. Each rat in the ICA group was lavaged with icariin [100 mg/(kg·d)] for 6 weeks. Rats in all groups were executed after 6 weeks. The contents of sialic acid were measured by spectrophotometry. Carnitine concentrations were measured by DTNB. HE stain was used to observe the microstructure changes in the epididymal tissue. Electron microscopy was used for observing the ultrastructural changes of the epididymis. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method was used to detect the apoptosis of the epididymal epithelium. Results Compared with the control group, the microstructure and ultrastructure of the epididymis in EV group showed pathological damage. Compared with the EV group, the damage of the epididymal microstructure and ultrastructure significantly alleviated. Apoptosis index (AI) of epididymal epithelium in the EV group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). However, AI of epididymal epithelium in the ICA group was significantly lower than that in the EV group (P < 0.01). The sialic acid and carnitine concentrations of the epididymis in the EV group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.01), respectively. However, the sialic acid and carnitine concentrations of the epididymis in the ICA group was significantly higher than that in the EV group (P < 0.01), respectively. Conclusion This study indicates that varicocele could result in the apoptosis of epididymal epithelium and icariin decreased the varicocele-induced apoptosis , suggesting that varicocele could damage the structure and function of epididymis, which can be repaired by icariin.

The stratum corneum barrier and the other issues in transdermal drug delivery system have attracted more and more at-tention, and the novel liposomes as the drug delivery vehicles effectively solve the problems. The novel liposomes can significantly im-prove transdermal drug penetration, therefore, can enhance efficacy and shows high application value and development prospects. In the paper, combined with some domestic and foreign current researches, the classification, penetration mechanisms and application of the novel liposomes were reviewed.