Some important network addresses of microbiology teaching reso ur ces and two effective searching engines in Internet were provided. How to searc h, download and apply these resources to the teaching practice were discussed in this paper.

Objective To investigate whether cotransplant with xenogenetic neonatal porcine Sertoli cells (NPSCs) could prolong rat islet allograft survival and its mechanisms.Methods 1500 islets equivalent quantity (IEQ) and 1×10~7 NPSCs were implanted under renal capsule of diabetic Wistar rats.Islets implanted alone were used as control group (n=6);islets co-transplanted with NPSCs under left renal capsule of recipients served as experimental group (n=6);meanwhile,islets and NPSCs implanted into the different sides of kidneys were used as another control grouP(n=4).Blood glucose level was measured everyday.The graft-bearing kidneys at the time of rejection were Results Co-transplantation with NPSCs to the same site significantly prolonged islet allograft survival (mean survive time,16.3±1.4 days vs.5.7±1.0 days in islet transplant alone control group,P<0.05).In contrast,transplantation with NPSCs and islets separately did not prolong the islet allograft survival (5.3±0.5 days).HE staining showed plenty of local infiltrated lymphocytes in the transplanted site of the eontrol group.which were demonstrated as mainly CD3+ T cells by immunopathology.The local expression of Bcl-2 was markedly elevated in co-transplantation group as compared with the other 2 groups,while there were no significant differences in the HO-1 expression among these groups.Conclusion Co-transplantation with xenogenic NPSCs can significantly prolong islet allograft survival in rats.The immunoprotective mechanism may be associateel with the inhibition of lymphocyte infiltration and the enhancement of the local expression of protective gene Bcl-2.

INTRODUCTIONBicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common form of adult congenital heart disease. When compared to patients with a normal trileaflet aortic valve, dilatation of the aortic root and the ascending aorta (Asc Ao) are the common findings in patients with BAV, with consequent higher risk of developing aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection and rupture. We aim to determine the site of the Asc Ao where maximum dilatation occurs in Asian adult patients with BAV.

MATERIALS AND METHODSAll subjects underwent full echocardiography examination. The diameter of the Asc Ao was measured at 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 6 cm and 7 cm from the level of aortic annulus to the Asc Ao in 2D from the parasternal long-axis view.

RESULTSA total of 80 patients (male/female: 45/35; mean age: 45.3 ± 16.2 years) with congenital BAV and 30 normal control group (male/female: 16/14; mean age: 45.9 ± 15.1 years) were enrolled. The indexed diameters of the Asc Ao were significantly larger than the control group. In patients with BAV, maximum dilatation of Asc Ao occurred around 6 cm distal to the aortic annulus.

CONCLUSIONIn patients with BAV, dilatation of Asc Ao is maximal at the mid Asc Ao region around 6 cm distal to the aorta annulus.

Adult ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; epidemiology ; Aorta ; diagnostic imaging ; Aortic Aneurysm ; epidemiology ; Aortic Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; Aortic Rupture ; epidemiology ; Aortic Valve ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Case-Control Studies ; Comorbidity ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Valve Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Singapore ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Qiling Decoction (QD) combined highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) on expression levels of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells in HIV/AIDS patients.

METHODSTotally 55 HIV/AIDS patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (28 cases) and the combination group (27 cases). Besides, 21 HIV negative patients were recruited as the healthy control group. Those in the treatment group received HARRT alone, while those in the combination group received HAART combined QD. The observation lasted for 24 weeks. Meanwhile, according to peripheral blood CD4+ T cell counts before treatment, HIV/AIDS patients were assigned to three subgroups. For patients in subgroup 1, 1 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 100 cells/microL; For patients in subgroup 2, 101 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 200 cells/lL; For patients in subgroup 3, 201 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 350 cells/microL. Expression of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells, and number of CD4+ T cell counts were detected using flow cytometry (FCM)in HIV/AIDS patients at the pre-treatment baseline, week 4, 12, and 24, as well as those in the healthy control group.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, CD4+ T cell counts and the baseline expression level of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of HIV/AIDS patients significantly decreased, the expression level of Treg cells significantly increased P < 0.01). Compared with before treatment in the same group, CD4+ T cell counts all increased at week 4, 12, and 24 in the two treatment groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the effective rate at various CD4+ T cell levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in expression levels of Th17 and Treg cells between the combination group and the treatment group at any time point (all P >0.05). The Th17/Treg ration significantly increased in the combination group after 24 weeks of treatment, showing statistical difference when compared with the treatment group (U = 2.135, P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONQD could improve the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells, which might be one of its mechanisms for improving HIV/AIDS patients' immunity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; Th17 Cells ; cytology

Adult ; Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; etiology ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Introns ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk ; ras Proteins ; genetics

This study is to report the tissue distribution of arsenic after giving different doses of realgar and Liushen pills to Beagle dogs, in order to provide basis for the safety evaluation of Liushen pills. ICP-MS was used to measure arsenic concentration, and HPLC-ICP-MS was used to analyze arsenic speciation. The concentration of total arsenic and As(III) + DMA (arsenite + dimethylarsenic acid) increased with dosing of realgar. Total arsenic concentration in most tissues and As(III) + DMA concentration in all tissues of Liushen pills group are lower than that of realgar group, but AsB concentration in liver, spleen and kidney of Liushen pills group increased. The concentration of total arsenic showed a dose-dependent manner with dosage administered. It was indicated that components in Liushen pills can reduce solubility of arsenic in realgar, which may decrease toxicity of realgar.
Animals ; Arsenic ; pharmacokinetics ; Arsenicals ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dogs ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Female ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Random Allocation ; Sulfides ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Tissue Distribution

OBJECTIVETo analyse the dynamical changes of the Ginkgo biloba's resources from 2001 to 2006, in Pizhou city, Jiangshu province by useing spatial analytical function of GIS and RS technology.

METHODUse the GIS and RS technology, extracted the information of G. biloba by scientific investigation, researched the spatial distribution and dynamical changes of G. biloba based on landsat 5 TM: the Apr. 3rd, 2001; Jan. 16th, 2005; July 30th, 2006.

RESULTGinkgo biloba's resource was 1.61 x 10(5) hm2 in 2001, 1.84 x 10(5) hm2 in 2005, 1.88 x 10(5) hm2 in 2006.

CONCLUSIONGinkgo biloba's resource rised from 1.61 x 10(5) hm2 to 1.88 x 10(5) hm2 from 2001 to 2006, showed the gradually rise.

China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Ecosystem ; Geographic Information Systems ; Geography ; Ginkgo biloba ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Population Dynamics ; Satellite Communications

BACKGROUNDDyslipidaemia is a potential independent risk factor for cerebrovascular disease in patients with diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate dyslipidaemia, treatment and control of dyslipidaemia among diabetic patients with ischemic stroke in a Chinese hospital.

METHODSA total of 1046 type 2 diabetic patients were assigned to diabetes with (n = 522) and diabetes without stroke groups. The two groups were matched by gender, age and diabetes duration. Lipid and lipoprotein profile were measured. Serum level and control of lipids were assessed and classified according to American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines and an intensified low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) target recommended in Chinese dyslipidaemia control criteria.

RESULTSDiabetic patients suffering stroke displayed not only poorly-controlled lipid and lipoprotein profiles, including the significantly lower proportion of patients achieving intensified LDL-C target of < 2.07 mmol/L (80 mg/dl), and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) target (14.4% vs 21.0%, P = 0.005; 45.8% vs 51.9%, P = 0.048 respectively), but also less adherence to therapy prescribed for dyslipidaemia (30.8% vs 41.0%, P = 0.001), when compared with diabetic patients without stroke. For the diabetic women with stroke, situation of dyslipidaemia was worse, with significantly lower serum level of HDL-C and apoA1, higher LDL-C level and higher ratio of apoB/apoA1 when compared with diabetic counterparts without stroke.

CONCLUSIONSMany diabetic patients with ischemic stroke remain uncontrolled for dyslipidaemia. Intensified LDL-C and overall lipid lowering clinical goals are potential precautions taken against ischemic stroke among diabetic patients in China.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Dyslipidemias ; complications ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the medium-term curative effects of locking proximal humerus plate for the treatment of comminuted fractures of proximal humerus, and provide evidences for the clinical practice.

METHODSFrom August 2005 and April 2008, 23 patients with comminuted fractures of proximal humerus were treated with locking plates, including 12 males and 11 females, aged 27 to 76 years old (averaged 51.5 years old). There were 18 cases of traffic accident injuries, 4 cases of falls injuries, and 1 case injured after heavy pressure. According to Neer classification, 11 cases were three-part fractures, and 12 cases were four-part fractures. Outcomes were assessed with radiography and the Constant-Murley (C-M) shoulder evaluation.

RESULTSAll the patients got primary healing of incisions. Twenty-three patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 17 to 49 months, with an average of 35.25 months. Twenty patients had fracture healing during 4 to 7 months after operation. There was no significant differences among 3, 6 and 12 months after operation in C-M scoring. The average C-M score was (79.85 +/- 17.23) points (38 to 100 points) at the 12th month after operation, 8 cases got an excellent result, 8 good, 5 fair, and 2 poor. In the LPHP plus bone graft group 6 cases got an excellent result, 4 good, 3 fair, and 1 poor; in LPHP fixation group 2 excellent, 4 good, 2 fair,and 1 poor.

CONCLUSIONThe medium-term curative effect of the locking proximal humerus plate in the treatment of proximal humeral fractures is significant. For the comminuted fractures of proximal humerus combined with osteoporosis and bone defects, bone graft should be performed routinely.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Bone Transplantation ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Comminuted ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Shoulder Fractures ; surgery

OBJECTIVESThis study try to subclassify breast cancer into different prognostic subgroups according to immunohistochemical algorithm and discuss the relationship between subtypes and biological and clinical behavior and prognosis.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-eight cases of infiltrative ductal carcinoma were studied using immunohistochemical staining with an antibody panel of ER, PR, HER2 and CK5/6 and subclassified referring to previous reports, and the 9 cases of HER2 positive subtype were tested using FISH.

RESULTSThe expression of ER, PR, HER2, and CK5/6 was detected in 67%, 45%, 27% and 27% cases, respectively. All cases were subclassified into five subgroups, with luminal A (55%), luminal B (20%), HER2 positive (7%), basal-like (10%) and unclassified cases (8%). Nine HER2 positive cases all showed amplification of HER2 gene. It was demonstrated that the luminal A group was associated with the best prognosis but the basal-like group worst by univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that both the clinical stage and immunohistochemical subtypes of tumor were related to overall survival. Menses status were different among these subtypes.

CONCLUSIONAccording to the expression of ER, PR, HER2 and CK5/6, infiltrative ductal carcinoma could be subclassified into five subgroups with different biological features and outcome, having a role in evaluating the prognosis and guiding the clinical treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratin-5 ; metabolism ; Keratin-6 ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden