It is extremely necessary and important for colleges or universities to transform the education concepts that barricade students' initiative and creativity, especially the one that takes fi-nal examinations as sole standard to evaluate teaching and learning effects. In order to display and cultivate students' study ability more comprehensively, we manage to establish a set of formative eval-uation system for regional anatomy course , which involves tests and examinations and evaluations throughout the whole teaching and learning process. It solves the long-lasting problem that examina-tions are final purposes of teaching and learning, and thus, teaching values not only results but also learning process, which directs students' attention to conventional studies and helps develop good study habits, greatly reducing the randomness of final academic performances. The diverse assessment methods, along with accumulated assessment results, can improve students' learning effects through-out the whole semester. The fundamental purpose of this system is to inspire students' passion for study and creativity and monitor the teaching process.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of p53 gene mutation in colorectal carcinoma and assess the value of peripheral blood p53 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in early diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma.

METHODSNSP in axons 5-8 of p53 gene was detected using ligase detection reaction-polymerase chain reaction (LDR-PCR) in the peripheral blood of 100 patients with colorectal cancer and 100 healthy subjects.

RESULTSThe mutation rate of p53 gene was 24% (24/120) in colorectal carcinoma patients and 0% (0/120) in the healthy subjects (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONp53 plays an important role in the carcinogenesis of colorectal carcinoma, and SNP analysis for p53 gene can be helpful in early diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics

To investigate the effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) on the plasma concentrations of valproic acid (VPA) and its toxic metabolite 2-propyl-4-pentenoic acid (4-ene VPA) in epileptic patients, the plasma concentrations of VPA and 4-ene VPA were determined, and the effect of CBZ on pharmacokinetics of VPA was evaluated. All patients had been divided into two groups (VPA group, n = 87; and VPA+CBZ group, n = 19). As compared to VPA group, the combination of CBZ significantly (P < 0.01) decreased the trough concentration of VPA [VPA group, (69.5 +/- 28.8) microg x mL(-1); VPA+CBZ group, (46.3 +/- 25.6) microg x mL(-1)] and does-adjusted VPA trough concentration [VPA group, (4.89 +/- 2.21) microg x mL(-1) x mg(-1) x kg(-1); VPA+CBZ group, (3.14 +/- 1.74) microg x mL(-1) x mg(-1) x kg(-1)]. However, the addition of CBZ did not influence the concentration of 4-ene VPA. The present study revealed that coadministration of CBZ can reduce VPA plasma concentration and may impact VPA clinical effect, therefore therapeutic drug mornitoring of VPA should be used when combined use of CBZ and VPA.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Anticonvulsants ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Carbamazepine ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Drug Interactions ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Epilepsy ; blood ; drug therapy ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Valproic Acid ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents from Daphne acutiloba.

METHODThe constituents were separated by column chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analyses.

RESULTFifteen compounds were isolated from the EtOAc extract and identified as wikstroelide M (1), vesiculosin (2), prostratin (3), 7-hydroxy-coumarin (4), 7,8-di-hydroxy-coumarin (5), isodaphnoside (6), daphnorine (7), rutamontine (8), daphnolin (9), daphneticin (10), (+)-pinoresinol-beta-D-glucoside (11), oleodapnone (12), oleodaphnal (13), ergosterol peroxide (14) and cholest-5-en-3beta-ol (15).

CONCLUSIONAll the compounds except for 4, 5 and 14 were obtained from the stems of this plant for the first time.

Coumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Daphne ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Furans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo explore the ultrasound characteristics of intramural pregnancy and evaluate its diagnostic value.

METHODSIntramural pregnancy was diagnosed by endoluminal ultrasonography and confirmed by surgery and pathological examination in 6 patients. The position of the gestational sac, ultrasound findings, distribution of color Doppler flow signals were observed and analyzed together with their surgical and pathological results based on literature review.

RESULTSThere were three types of ultrasound characteristics: gestational cyst type, mass type and uterine rupture type. The gestational cyst type or mass type presented with an empty uterus and a gestational sac or mixed mass was found in the myometrium, which can be separated from the endometrium. The sac or mass did not communicate with the uterine cavity, and abundant blood flow was observed about the sac or in the mass, while massive hemoperitoneum was found in the uterine rupture type.

CONCLUSIONEndoluminal ultrasound is of high value in the diagnosis of intramural pregnancy.

Adult ; Endosonography ; Female ; Humans ; Myometrium ; diagnostic imaging ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and its decoy receptor osteoprotegerin (OPG) during unloading period of dental implants.

METHODSAn animal model of dental implants was established in Beagle dogs. Bone remodeling was tested at 3, 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after the placement of implants. RANKL and OPG mRNA expression were quantified by real-time PCR. Then mandibular bones were resected and some sections were observed.

RESULTSThe most prominent period of bone remodeling occurred at 7 day after the placement of implants (OPG/RANKL mRNA, 2.15 ± 0.1). The expression of RANKL and OPG increased in a time-dependent manner in both soft and hard tissue. After 7 days they gradually decreased.

CONCLUSIONSBoth OPG and RANKL were expressed in peri-implant tissues, and the changing tendency of RANKL and OPGmRNA was consistent with the change of bone remodeling. The active stage for bone remodelling in peri-implant tissues during unloading period is about 7 days after implantation.

Animals ; Bone Remodeling ; genetics ; Dental Implantation ; Dogs ; Male ; Osteoprotegerin ; genetics ; metabolism ; RANK Ligand ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of Saussurea laniceps.

METHODThe ethanol extract of S. laniceps was separated by means of silica gel chromatography. The compounds isolated from the plant were identified by their spectral evidence.

RESULTFifteen compounds were isolated and identified as beta-stiosterol (1), umbelliferone (2), 4-hydroxyacetophenone (3), scopoletin (4), isoscopoletin (5), xuelianlactone (6), methyl 3-(2', 4'-dihydroxyphenyl) propanoate (7), apigenin (8), neoechinulin A (9), daucosterol (10), scopolin (11), xuelianlactone 8-O-beta-D-glcuoside (12), apigenin 7-glcuoside (13), apigenin 7-lutinoside (14) and syringin (15).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 5-15 were isolated from S. laniceps, and among them, 7 and 9 were isolated from genus Saussurea for the first time.

Apigenin ; chemistry ; Coumarins ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Phenylpropionates ; chemistry ; Phorbols ; chemistry ; Saussurea ; chemistry ; Scopoletin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry ; Umbelliferones ; chemistry

Oxytocin is a neuropeptide produced primarily in the hypothalamus and plays an important role in the regulation of mammalian birth and lactation. It has been shown that oxytocin has important cardiovascular protective effects. Here we investigated the effects of oxytocin on vascular reactivity and underlying the mechanisms in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro and in rat aorta ex vivo. Oxytocin increased phospho-eNOS (Ser 1177) and phospho-Akt (Ser 473) expression in HUVECs in vitro and the aorta of rat ex vivo. Wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), inhibited oxytocin-induced Akt and eNOS phosphorylation. In the rat aortic rings, oxytocin induced a biphasic vascular reactivity: oxytocin at low dose (10-9–10-8 M) initiated a vasorelaxation followed by a vasoconstriction at high dose (10-7 M). L-NAME (a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), endothelium removal or wortmannin abolished oxytocin-induced vasorelaxation, and slightly enhanced oxytocin-induced vasoconstriction. Atosiban, an oxytocin/ vasopressin 1a receptor inhibitor, totally blocked oxytocin-induced relaxation and vasoconstriction. PD98059 (ERK1/2 inhibitor) partially inhibited oxytocin-induced vasoconstriction. Oxytocin also increased aortic phospho-ERK1/2 expression, which was reduced by either atosiban or PD98059, suggesting that oxytocin-induced vasoconstriction was partially mediated by oxytocin/V1aR activation of ERK1/2. The present study demonstrates that oxytocin can activate different signaling pathways to cause vasorelaxation or vasoconstriction. Oxytocin stimulation of PI3K/eNOS-derived nitric oxide may participate in maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis, and different vascular reactivities to low or high dose of oxytocin suggest that oxytocin may have different regulatory effects on vascular tone under physiological or pathophysiological conditions.

OBJECTIVESThis study is to monitor the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in the aquatic microcosm from Han River and explore the feasibility of fluorescence staining, heterotrophic plate count and ELISA in detection of viable but nonculturable E. coli O157:H7.

METHODSE. coli O157:H7 were added into aquatic microcosm from Han River and cultured with low temperature and oligo-nutrition. Then the survival of E. coli O157:H7 were real-time monitored by acridine orange direct count (AODC), direct viable count (DVC)-CTC staining, DVC-nalidixic acid (NA) staining, heterotrophic plate count (HPC) and ELISA.

RESULTSE. coli O157:H7 can be converted to a viable but nonculturable state in the aquatic microcosm from Han River 58 days after cultured at 4°C with oligo-nutrition. The amount of viable E. coli O157:H7 was measured as 1.2 × 10(5) CFU/ml by DVC-CTC and 9.0 × 10(4) CFU/ml by DVC-NA, whereas the amount of culturable bacterial determined by HPC is 0. The amounts of bacteria determined by ELISA are basically stable within 58 days around 10(6) CFU/ml.

CONCLUSIONE. coli O157:H7 can be converted into a viable but nonculturable state in Han River water at 4°C with oligo-nutrition, and ELISA combined with fluorescence staining and heterotrophic plate count can be used in quantitative detection of the viable but nonculturable E. coli O157:H7.

Colony Count, Microbial ; Culture Media ; Escherichia coli O157 ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Microbial Viability ; Rivers ; microbiology ; Water Microbiology

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Germinoma ; blood ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis