The relationship between the precision of the estimated sampling variances and the number of samples was quantitatively established. It revealed that the product of the standard deviation of the estimated samplingvariance and square root of the number of samples was a constant. Monte Carlo simulation technique was employed to verify the equation. Populations with Gaussian,unifohn random and multi-nomial(taking silicon carbide material as an example) distributions were studied with satisfactory results.

Objective: To observe the effect of Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) on the muscle strength in senile sarcopenia. Methods: Sixty-five old people with sarcopenia were randomized into Yi Jin Jing group and a blank control group. Thirty-three patients in Yi Jin Jing group practiced Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises), while 32 patients in the blank control group didn't receive any interventions. The muscle strength was measured before and after 12-week training. Results: During the study, each group had 1 dropout. The muscle strength was improved after 12-week training in Yi Jin Jing group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in the blank control group (P>0.05). After the intervention, there was a significant difference between Yi Jin Jing group and the blank control group in comparing the muscle strength (P<0.05). Conclusion: Constant Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) training can notably improve skeletal muscle strength in senile sarcopenia.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of etanercept plus Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside (TWP) in elderly patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSTotally 46 elderly patients with active RA were randomly assigned to the treatment group (22 cases) and the control group (24 cases). All patients received subcutaneous injection of etanercept, 25 mg each time, twice per week. The dosage was reduced to once per week 3 months later. Patients in the treatment group took TWP Tablet (10 mg each time, three times per day), while those in the control group took methotrexate (MTX), 10 mg each time, once per week. The whole course lasted for 24 weeks. Patients' rest pain, tender joint number, swollen joint number, health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), patients' global assessment, physicians' global assessment, erythrocyte sediment rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), rheumatic factor were assessed at week 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24. The curative effect was statistically evaluated by the United States Institute of Rheumatology ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 improvement criteria. Meanwhile, any adverse event was recorded and evaluated.

RESULTSTotally 41 completed the trial, and 5 dropped off (3 in the treatment group and 2 in the control group). Compared with the control group, there was no statistical difference in ACR20, ACR50, or ACR70 in the treatment group (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, there was some improvement in tender joint number, swollen joint number, visual analogue scale (VAS) for patients' global assessment, VAS for physicians' global assessment, ESR, CRP, and HAQ between the two groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group in the same phase, there was no statistical difference in the treatment group (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the occurrence of adverse events between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSEtanercept plus TWP could achieve equivalent therapeutic effect to that of Etanercept plus MTX. The two regimens could improve clinical signs, symptoms, and QOL related to RA. They were well tolerated in the treatment of elderly patients with active RA.

Aged ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Etanercept ; Female ; Glycosides ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo compare the changes of digestive and absorptive functions in three different models of Pi-deficiency syndrome (PDS).

METHODSExperimental mice were divided into four groups, the control group(CG), the rhubarb group (RG), the exhaustion group (EG) and the over-exertion group(OG). Criteria including general physical signs, D-xylose excretion rate, serum amylase activity, velocity of stomach emptying and enterokinesia, serum gastrin content and indexes of organs were determined before and after treatment.

RESULTSDecrease of D-xylose excretion rate and increase of stomach emptying and enterokinesia velocity appeared in all the three PDS models. As compared with CG, changes of all indices in OG were significant, while the decreasing of spleen index and serum amylase activity in EG, and the changes of serum gastrin content and thymus index in RG were insignificantly different.

CONCLUSIONAll the changes in various criteria showed that PDS mice model established by over-exertion was superior to that established by frequently used methods as purging with rhubarb and exhausting by swimming.

Animals ; Digestion ; physiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Intestinal Absorption ; physiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Splenic Diseases ; Syndrome ; Xylose ; urine ; Yang Deficiency

Objective To investigate the relations between adiponectin(APN) and lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 (LP‐PLA2) with the development and progress of essential hypertension .Methods 60 patients with essential hypertension were collect‐ed and divided into 3 groups of the hypertension grade 1 ,2 ,3 groups according to the levels of blood pressure ,20 cases in each group .Contemporaneous 20 healthy controls were selected .The peripheral venous blood samples were collected from the cubital vein and the serum levels of APN and LP‐PLA2 were measured by ELISE .The related biochemical indicators were simultaneously detected .Results The serum APN levels in the hypertension grade 1 ,2 ,3 groups were significantly lower than that in the control group ,moreover which in the hypertension grade 3 group was significantly lower than that in the hypertension grade 1 group(P<0 .05);on the contrary ,serum levels of LP‐PLA2 in the hypertension grade 1 ,2 ,3 groups were significantly higher than that in the healthy control group ,moreover which in the hypertension grade 3 group was obviously higher than that in the hypertension grade 1 group(P<0 .05);serum APN was significantly negatively correlated with LP‐PLA2(r= -0 .772 ,P<0 .05) .Conclusion Serum levels of APN and LP‐PLA2 are closely related with the development and progress of essential hypertension .

Objective To prepare a innovative VP3 gene‐loaded ultrasound microbubble decorated with TATp and SDF‐1 , having the extracellular accumulation and intracellular permeation function ,and characterize their property .Methods VP3 gene‐loaded ultrasound microbubbles were prepared with the method of W/O/W double emulsion .SDF‐1 and TATp were covalently con‐gjugated to the surface of poly‐lactic/acid‐glycolic acid(PLGA) microbubble though thioether bonds to prepare gene‐loaded targeted ultrasound mirobubbles .Their particle size ,distribution and surface potential were determined by Malvern measuring instrument . The conjugation status of TATp and SDF‐1 were evaluated by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy .Their DNA protection were identified by digestion reaction test .The vitro targeting capacity was preliminarily assessed by light microscopy and flow cytometry , and the vitro ultrasound imaging was investigated under high frequency imaging condition .Results The gene‐loaded targeted ultra‐sound mirobubbles showed regularly sphericity .The diameter was (536 .00 ± 16 .55)nm ,and showed a narrow distribution .The zeta potential was(-0 .08 ± 0 .08)mV .The average gene loading was 0 .62% ,with the average rate of 36 .13% gene encapsulation effi‐ciency .The DNA protective effect sustained 60 min without damage .Connection rate of TATp and SDF‐1 coupled with PLGA mi‐crobubbles surface was 69 .84% .The vitro targeting study showed that more targeted microbubbles stably clustered together in the tongue SCC‐15 cell membranes with the connection rate of 91 .44% ,while non‐targeted microbubbles combination rate was 12 .96% .Moreover ,the vitro ultrasound imaging was tiny dot ,even high echo .Conclusion TATp‐SDF‐1‐VP3‐PEG‐PLGA micro‐bubbles were prepared successfully ,which can efficiently target to tongue SCC‐15 cells ,and pass through the cell membranes at a short time in company with outstanding ultrasound imagings in vitro .

Objective To evaluate the security of big animals with a new bioartificial liver system .Methods Six Tibet pigs re-spectively received treatment of hybrid artificial liver and simple bioartificial liver ,observed and recorded the vital signs ,venous pressure ,transmembrane pressure and slurry pot pressure each hour ,and collected blood to make endotoxin and bacterial culture test in the zero hour ,fourth and eighth hour .Results Compared with the zero hour ,venous pressure ,transmembrane pressure ,slur-ry pot pressure were much higher in the fifth hour (P< 0 .05) ,and there were no significant difference in the rest of other time points(P>0 .05) .The mean arterial pressure and respiratory rate in all time point showed no significant changes (P>0 .05) .Com-pared with the zero hour ,the heart rate was much lower in the second hour (P<0 .01) .The values of blood endotoxin were less than 0 .5 EU/mL in the zero hour ,fourth and eighth hour from beginning ,and the bacterial culture test showed no growth of bacteria . Conclusion The experiment of big animals with a new bioartificial liver system was safe ,the efficacy in the treatment of hepatic failure could be assessed further .

Pathologic experiment teaching is special feature and stresses morphologic teaching,It is easy for stuents to learn passively.Problem-basedlearning ( PBL ) was introduced in pathologic experiment teaching in eight-year clinical medicine.program courses.In pathologic experiment class,questions was produced by analyzing various diseases,observing macroscopic and microscopic changes,discussed by clinical cases and solved by students themselves with bilingualistic teaching.In conclusion,PBL was significant in improving the quality of pathological experiment teaching,overcoming the shortage of morphologic learning,and making students more active in learning pathology.

Objective To explore the effect of Fas/FasL pathway on fluoride.induced apoptosis in hurnan neumbla8toma SH-SY5Y cells.Methods The cell survival rate,percentage of apoptosis,and mRNA expression levels of Fas and FasL were measured respectively after the SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to O(control),20,40,80 mg/L sodium nuoride(NaF)for 24 hours/n vitro.Furthermore,the changes of the percentage of apoptosis and mRNA expression levels of Fas and FasL in 40 mg/L NaF-treated groups incubated with activaling or neutralizing anti-Fas antibody(CH11 or ZB4)also observed respectively.Results Compared with the control group(100.00%), the cell surval rates in 40,80 mg/L NaF-treated groups[(84.63±2.57)%,(69.04±5.63)%]were significandy lower(P<0.01).The percentage of apoptosis in 40,80 mg/L NaF.treated groups[(8.54±1.95)%.(17.94±2.71)%]were higher(P<0.05)than thal in the control group[(3.32±1.33)%],and increased with the dose of NaF.NaF could up-regulate Fas and FasL mRNA expression,and increased the Fas/β-actin [40 ms/L group (0.94±0.51),80 mg/L group(0.99±0.12)]and FasL/β-actin[40 mg/L group(0.96±0.42),80 mg/L group(0.99±0.24)] ratio,compared with the control[Eas/β-actin(0.50±0.33),FasL/β-actin(0.58±0.23)],both the difference had 8tatistical significances (P<0.05).NaF and CH I 1 had a synergisfic effect on apoptosis and mRNA expression levels of Fas and FasLL(F=32.89,18.46,.14.69,P<0.01)while NaF and ZB4 had an antagonistic effect (F=5.73,24.26,10.17,P<0.05 or<0.01).Conclusion NaF exposure can cause apoptosis in SH-Y5Y cells,and the Fas/FasL pmhway may play an important role in NaF-induced apoptosis.

AIMTo study the effect of radix-astragali compound(RC) on muscle atrophy in tail-suspended rats. Muscle weight, fiber type distribution, cross-sectional area (CSA), and activity of myosin adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) in rat soleus muscle were investigated.

METHODSThe tail-suspended rats were subjected to a 14 days simulated weightlessness, during which period, RC or saltwater was given via intragastric instillation during tail suspension. The changes of soleus muscle weight were scaled by muscle-to-body weight ratio. The activities of myosin ATPase of muscle fibers were detected by method of Ca(2+) -ATPase.

RESULTSAfter a 14 days tail suspension it was found: in rats treated with RC, soleus muscle-to-body weight ratio rose by 33.33% (P < 0.01), both CSA of type I and II fiber drastically enhanced by(143.03%, P < 0.01; 83.25%, P < 0.01), the percentage of type I fiber significantly declined compared to the untreated rats.

CONCLUSIONRC is able to effectively prevent muscle atrophy caused by tail suspension and restrain the increase in the myosin ATPase activities caused by simulated weightlessness.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hindlimb Suspension ; Male ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; enzymology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Muscular Atrophy ; prevention & control ; Myosins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Weightlessness Simulation ; methods