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Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), the main active pharmaceutical ingredient of the safflower plant (Carthamus tinctorius L.), is a hydrophilic drug with low oral bioavailability (BA). The objective of the present study was to improve the oral BA of HSYA by formulation design. The effect of several pharmaceutical excipients on enhancing BA, including Poloxamer 188 (P188), sodium caprate (SC), sodium deoxycholate, and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), was investigated through animal models. Sodium caprate, with a relative BA of 284.2%, was able to improve the oral BA of HSYA. Furthermore, HSYA can bind with chitosan (CS) by Coulomb attraction and form a HSYA-CS complex. The preparation process was optimized, and the binding rate reached 99.4%. HSYA granules were prepared using a HSYA-CS complex and SC. The results of the pharmacokinetics showed that the relative BA of HSYA granules was 476%, much higher than HSYA/SC.

A simple AIBN-mediated cyclization reaction of activated alkenes toward perfluorinated oxindoles is developed. In the presence of readily available AIBN, N-arylacrylamide and perfluoroalkyl iodides underwent perfluorination reaction to give perfluorinated oxindoles in good to excellent yields under metal-free conditions.

This study characterized the dynamics of the activities of urease, nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase in both soil organic layer and mineral soil layer under three depths of snow pack (deep snowpack, moderate snowpack and shallow snowpack) over the three critical periods (snow formed period, snow stable period, and snow melt period) in the subalpine Abies faxoniana forest of western Sichuan in the winter of 2012 and 2013. Throughout the winter, soil temperature under deep snowpack increased by 46.2% and 26.2%, respectively in comparison with moderate snowpack and shallow snowpack. In general, the three nitrogen-related soil enzyme activities under shallow snowpack were 0.8 to 3.9 times of those under deep snowpack during the winter. In the beginning and thawing periods of seasonal snow pack, shallow snowpack significantly increased the activities of urease, nitrate and nitrite reductase enzyme in both soil organic layer and mineral soil layer. Although the activities of the studied enzymes in soil organic layer and mineral soil layer were observed to be higher than those under deep- and moderate snowpacks in deep winter, no significant difference was found under the three snow packs. Meanwhile, the effects of snowpack on the activities of the measured enzymes were related with season, soil layer and enzyme type. Significant variations of the activities of nitrogen-related enzymes were found in three critical periods over the winter, and the three measured soil enzymes were significantly higher in organic layer than in mineral layer. In addition, the activities of the three measured soil enzymes were closely related with temperature and moisture in soils. In conclusion, the decrease of snow pack induced by winter warming might increase the activities of soil enzymes related with nitrogen transformation and further stimulate the process of wintertime nitrogen transformation in soils of the subalpine forest.

Firstly, advances in investigation and evaluation of groundwater pollution in China in the last decade were presented, and several issues in the field which hinder the development of groundwater environment were pointed out. Then, four key concepts in risk assessment of groundwater pollution were briefly described with more emphasis on the difference between groundwater pollution assessment and groundwater quality assessment in this paper. After that, a method on risk assessment of groundwater pollution which included four indicators, the pollution assessment, the quality assessment, the vulnerability and the pollution load of groundwater, was presented based on the regional characteristics of Beijing Plain. Also, AHP and expert scoring method were applied to determine the weight of the four evaluation factors. Finally, the application of this method in Beijing Plain showed the area with high, relative high, medium, relative low and low risk of groundwater contamination was 1 232.1 km2, 699.3 km2, 1 951.4 km, 2 644 km2, and 133.2 km2, respectively. The study results showed that the higher risk in the western region was likely caused by the higher pollution load and its higher vulnerability, while the relatively high risk in the southeast of Beijing plain area, the Tongzhou District, is mainly caused by historical pollution sources.

The present study aimed to evaluate efficacy and adverse effects of Nimotuzumab combined with docetaxel-cisplatin-fluorouracil regimen in the treatment of advanced oral carcinoma. Nine patients with advanced oral carcinoma were treated with Nimotuzumab combined with docetaxel-cisplatin-fluorouracil regimen (test group). The treatment was given as follows: Nimotuzumab 200 mg, given as intravenous infusion once a week for 6 weeks; docetaxel and cisplatin, 75 mg/m(2) each, on day 1 only; 5-fluorouracil, 750 mg/m(2) infused continually for 8 h, used from day 1 to 5; the total cycle was for 21 days. Another eight patients comprised control group (docetaxel-cisplatin-fluorouracil regimen alone). Study patients from both groups were evaluated for objective response. The response rate was significantly (p = 0.044) higher in test group (88.9 vs. 37.5 % in control group). The disease control rate also tended to be higher in test group (100 vs. 62.5 % in control group; p = 0.083). The major adverse effects were bone marrow suppression, nausea, vomiting, and alopecia. The incidence of adverse effects was similar between both study groups. In conclusion, Nimotuzumab combined with docetaxel-cisplatin-fluorouracil regimen is effective and safe in the treatment of advanced oral carcinoma.

The seasonal dynamics of soil labile nitrogen pools and net nitrogen mineralization of three subalpine forests along an elevation gradient (3600, 3300 and 3000 m), western Sichuan, China were examined. Obvious seasonal dynamics were found in soil labile nitrogen pools (ammonium, nitrate, microbial biomass nitrogen and dissolved organic nitrogen) and net nitrogen mineralization rate, but the seasonality varied with the measured nitrogen pools. The concentrations of soil nitrate (8.38-89.60 mg x kg(-1)) were significantly higher than those of ammonium (0.44-8.43 mg x kg(-1)) in four sampling periods (non-growing season, early, middle and late growing season). Regardless of the elevation, the rate of soil net nitrogen mineralization was negative (-0.77 to -0.56 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) early in the growing season, but positive in the other three periods. Except for nitrate, the contents of ammonium, microbial biomass nitrogen and dissolved organic nitrogen varied significantly with elevation and the altitude effects on those pools were dependent on seasons. In summary, soil nitrification was the major process of net soil nitrogen mineralization and soil nitrogen mineralization was not affected by elevational gradient. Soil nitrogen mineralization (0.42-0.99 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) in winter was considerable in this area. Relatively high inorganic nitrogen in early spring might be favorable for vegetation growth, but might also be lost from soil ecosystem through leaching.

Objective: To present 4 cases of hemophilic pseudotumor and to investigate the treatment outcome., Methods: Four cases of hemophilic pseudotumor were reviewed. The patients were treated by internal medicine combined with surgery and followed up for two years. The feature and diagnosis of the disease were analyzed and the treatment outcome was evaluated., Results: All of the 4 cases were misdiagnosed with a history of bleeding before operation. One patient was bleeding after biopsy without replacement therapy. One patient was presented with gingival bleeding and anaemia. The final diagnosis of hemophilia A in all the 4 cases was confirmed by the blood test (VIII deficiency). After infusion of factor VIII, operation was performed on all cases. There was no recurrence after two years of follow-up., Conclusions: It should be aware of the rarely encountered disease which is prone to be misdiagnosed. Under factor-deficient replacement therapy, surgical management is the most effective way in preventing from bleeding and avoiding progressive expanding of pseudotumor.

We sought to evaluate the effect of (125)I radioactive seed implantation combined with prosthesis denture on the treatment of oral and maxillofacial malignancy. For this purpose, 10 patients with glandule palatine malignancy were selected and subjected to the treatment plan of radioactive seed implantation during CT examination. All patients were treated as follow. The tumor tissues were extracted first. After 2 weeks, radioactive seeds were implanted in the palatine tissue and the prosthesis denture was made and worn for the tissue defect. Several radioactive seeds were still embedded in the tissue surface of the prosthesis at the same time; 24-36 seeds (average: 28) were used for each patient. All patients were followed up for 3-16 months and the results were evaluated. We found no tumor recurrence or metastasis around the target area in all patients. Significant improvement was shown in terms of speech, mastication, and facial appearance in all cases. Therefore, we concluded that in patients with glandule palatine malignancy, tumorectomy followed by radioactive seed implantation and prosthesis denture are effective for preventing the recurrence and metastasis of malignancy and improving the quality of life.

Objective: This study investigated the rapid onset of bronchodilation effect and compared lung function changes following budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort Turbuhaler®) inhalation in Chinese patients with moderate-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchial asthma., Methods: In this open-label, parallel-group clinical study, patients eligible for study were divided into COPD group (n=62, mean age 68.16±8.75 years) and asthma group (n=30, mean age 45.80±12.35 years). Lung function tests (include FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and IC) were performed at baseline (t=0 min time point, value before inhalation of budesonide/formoterol), and then eligible patients received two inhalations of budesonide/formoterol (160/4.5 μg). Lung function tests were reassessed at t=3, 10 and 30 min time point. The primary end-point was lung function change 3 min after drug inhalation, and the secondary end-points were comparison of the gas flow rate (ΔFEV1) and volume responses (ΔFVC, ΔIC) between COPD and asthma patients after inhalation of budesonide/formoterol., Results: Compared with the baseline, all patients significantly improved their lung function (included FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and IC) at 3 min (P<0.05). Greater bronchodilation efficacy was found in the asthma group compared with the COPD group (P<0.05). In the asthmatic patients, the curves of FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, IC, showed improvement with an ascending trend at all time points from 3 to 30 min. Whereas in the COPD patients, only the curves of FEV1, FVC, IC showed similar pattern. We found that ΔFVC was significantly higher than ΔFEV1 in both groups (P<0.05), but no significant difference between ΔIC and ΔFEV1 (P>0.05). Compared with COPD group, asthma group had higher level of ΔFEV1 and ΔIC (P<0.05), but no significant difference for ΔFVC can be found., Conclusions: Budesonide/formoterol has a fast onset of bronchodilation effect in patients with moderate-severe COPD and asthma. Greater efficacy was found in the asthma group compared with the COPD group. The gas flow rate and volume responses in patients with COPD differ from those with asthma after inhalation of Budesonide/formoterol.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy begins to be more and more widely accepted as a standard adjuvant treatment in gastric cancer. And oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and 5-fluorouracil (FOLFOX) also reveals to be a very effective regimen in gastric cancer. But the safety and the dosages of FOLFOX combining with radiotherapy are still unknown. This study was to determine the maximum-tolerated dose and the dose-limiting toxicity of FOLFOX with higher-dose concurrent radiotherapy (RT) as adjuvant treatment in patients with gastric cancer. Patients with Stage II/III gastric cancer after surgery were recruited. They received one cycle of induction chemotherapy (standard FOLFOX4). Then, they received 50.4 Gy in 1.8-Gy fractions in combination with two cycles of concurrent FOLFOX, and oxaliplatin among this regimen was administered with escalating doses. Dose-limiting toxicity including grade 3 or grade 4 hematologic and nonhematologic toxicities was investigated. Fifteen patients were enrolled at the following dose levels: oxaliplatin 55 mg/m(2) (3 patients), 65 mg/m(2) (6 patients), and 75 mg/m(2) (6 patients). Dose-limiting toxicity was observed in 1 patient at 65 mg/m(2) (grade 4 leukopenia) and in 3 patients at 75 mg/m(2) (1 patient had grade 4 leukopenia, 1 had grade 3 thrombocytopenia, and 1 had grade 3 stomatitis). Combination chemotherapy FOLFOX with oxaliplatin 65 mg/m(2), d 1; leucovorin 200 mg/m(2), 2 h, d1-2; 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m(2), iv, d 1-2 and 600 mg/m(2) civ, 22 h, d 1-2 given concurrently with RT (50.4 Gy) can be recommended as a safer and preferable regimen for the adjuvant treatment of patients with gastric cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS)-based on multidisciplinary treatment for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and asthma., Methods: The study included 25 CRS patients with asthma who received ESS from September 2006 to March 2009, besides surgery, who also used corticosteroid nasal spray, oral macrolide antibiotics and nasal irrigation perioperatively. Evaluation was performed before ESS, 1 year and 3 years post-ESS. Evaluation index included visual analogue scale (VAS) and endoscopy Lund-Kennedy assessment for CRS, and asthma control test (ACT) and pulmonary function tests for asthma., Results: Twenty-three (92%) patients were followed up for 12 months. Twelve (48%) of them were followed up for 36 months. CRS efficacy: VAS of general symptom significantly improved after ESS compared to pre-ESS (8.12 ± 0.60, x(-) ± s), after 1 year (3.20 ± 2.19) and 3 year (3.79 ± 2.32) follow up (both P = 0.000). There was no statistic difference between 1 year and 3 year follow up (P = 0.851). Endoscopy Lund-Kennedy score significantly improved in post-ESS after 1 year (4.35 ± 3.21) and 3 year (5.50 ± 2.64) follow up compared to pre-ESS (9.80 ± 2.10, both P = 0.000), and there was no difference between 1 year and 3 year follow up (P = 0.606). Asthma efficacy: ACT pre-ESS, 1 year and 3 year were 21.96 ± 2.16, 23.61 ± 1.94 and 22.33 ± 3.47, without statistic difference (F = 2.871, P = 0.065). Pulmonary function showed no significant change after surgery (Pre-ESS 74.68 ± 11.09, 1 year 73.27 ± 12.27, 3 year 73.50 ± 7.87, F = 0.076, P > 0.05)., Conclusions: ESS improves CRS with asthma significantly and persistently. Asthma control level, anti-asthma drug dose and pulmonary function remain stable after ESS.

The third plague epidemic in Harbin broke out in 1946 and ended in 1954. Different from the first two plague epidemics (imported), the third prevalence was both imported and idiopathic infectious disease which was caused by human factors. Japanese troops set forbidden zones to build a biological weapon center, which destroyed the natural environment and offered a good growth condition for Citellus Undulatus. In 1945, on the eve of surrender, the Japanese blew up the Unit 731 germ factory located in a bungalow district, which caused diffusion of infected plague fleas. Mice of the district were infected and a man-made plague focus was created. During the prevalence of the third plague, prevention departments at all levels took a series of actions and with people's efforts, the plague was effectively controlled.

Objective: To explore whether demethylation inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) could reverse multidrug resistance (MDR) of human colon cancer and its impacts on the expressions of Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19 KDa protein interacting protein 3 (BNIP3), P-glycoprotein (P-GP) and multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP), as well as the activity of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT)., Methods: Oxaliplatin (L-OHP) resistant human colon carcinoma cells (sw620/L-OHP) and its parental cells (sw620) were used to determine the effect of 5-aza-dC. CCK-8 assay was adopted to evaluate the cytotoxicity of 5-aza-dC. Western blot was performed to observe the expressions of BNIP3, P-GP and MRP. H microassay was used to detect the activity of DNMT., Results: After the addition of 1.4 micromol/L 5-aza-dC, the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of L-OHP to sw620/ L-OHP cells was decreased from (0.335 +/- 0.043) microg/mL to (0.069 +/- 0.023) microg/mL, and the chemosensitivity increased 8.26 times (P < 0.001). Western blot analysis showed that the expression of BNIP3 was up-regulated by 5-aza-dC in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.001), and P-GP and MRP expression were also significantly changed (P < 0.05) but not in a concentration-dependent manner (P > 0.05). DNMT activity was down-regulated by 5-aza-dC in sw620/L-OHP cells (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: 5-aza-dC could reversed multi drug resistance of sw620/L-OHP, which may due to the demethylation to upregulate BNIP3 expression, and inhibit the expression of resistance-associated protein P-GP and MRP further by some unknown mechanism.

In the title compound, C(17)H(14)ClF(2)NO(2), the amino-acrylo-yloxy group makes dihedral angles of 47.55 (11)° with the 4-chloro-phenyl group and 8.74 (12)° with the difluoro-phenyl group; the dihedral angle between the rings is 52.32 (11)°. The structure of the title compound reveals a Z configuration with respect to the C=C double bond in the amino-acrylate fragment. A bifurcated intramolecular N-H⋯(O,F) hydrogen bond occurs. In the crystal, molecules are linked into chains by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

In order to make clear the changes in the micro crystal structures of celluloses and the functional group of main components including cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin in wood decayed by fungi, the crystallinity, layer spacing d in crystalline unit cell, width of crystallite and functional group of main components of Populus tomentosa Carr wood, which was decayed by Phanerochaete Chysosporium (white-rot) and Postia Placenta (brown-rot) with various durations, for two weeks, four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks and ten weeks, respectively, were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy methods. It was concluded that the lattice structures of crystallite in wood cellulose were not destroyed by PC and PP, and the two theta angles and layer spacing d in crystallite were constant, although the decaying treatment times were different for each other when decayed by the same fungi. However, the crystallinity and width of crystallite decreased with the decaying treatment times increasing, and the decaying effects by PP were more significantly than those by PC, which showed that the damage extent of celluloses decayed by PP was greater than that by PC. It was estimated that the xylan in hemicelluloses had been degraded to various extents with the process of decaying in wood, resulting in the carbonyl content increasing, and the effects of degradation on hemicelluloses and celluloses by PC and PP were almost the same. Furthermore, benzene rings in lignin, which had no remarkable changes by PP, were oxidized into chain hydrocarbon after decaying by PC.

Joseph James Kinyoun (1860-1919), an American bacteriologist, was the first director of NIH (National Institute of Health). His interest in bacteriology and the work of isolation of the cholera organism laid the groundwork for the present health research program of NIH. In 1900, Kinyoun identified and confirmed the diagnosis in an outbreak of plague in San Francisco. In addition, Kinyoun contributed a lot in the prevention and antisepsis of diphtheria, the spread of knowledge of bacteriology, and research of public health.

The medical education of America gradually became one of the models of the advanced medical education throughout the world in the beginning of 20th century. The medical educational revolution in America led by the report of Flexner was an important foundation for the successful development of medical education in America. The occurrence of the Flexner Revolution was closely connected with the transformation of medical concepts and educational ideas which were led by the revolution in various social factors. So we can say that the Flexner Revolution was led by ideas.

On 25th July, 1978, a test-tube baby from the first use of IVF-ET was born, which opened a new chapter for the development of ART for human beings. Thereafter, some derivative techniques such as POST, GIFT, ICSI and PDG, etc., emerged in succession, which were a comprehensive supplement to IVF-ET, and further perfected ART. With the review of this technique and its derivative techniques, people can more comprehensively understand the techniques and provide experience and enlightenment for its more healthy development.

Karl F. Meyer who was born in Switzerland was American famous bacteriologist of 20th century. During the World War II, Dr. Meyer urged the U. S. military to take positive reply measures against the bacteria war started by Japanese army and achieved significant accomplishments in the preventive and therapeutic theory of plague as well as the manufacture of plague vaccine. After the World War II, Meyer devoted to the scientific field of plague prevention and made great achievements in the area of animal diseases and public health. In 1951, he received the Lasker Award of America.

The aim of preoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer is to improve the local control rate, increase the possibility for sphincter preservation, and improve the survival and the quality of life. Randomized clinical trials have shown that combining radical surgery with preoperative radiochemotherapy is more effective in improving the local control rate as compared with radical surgery or preoperative radiotherapy alone. With introduction of more effective novel chemotherapeutic agents and schemes of their combination, multimodal treatment with preoperative radiochemotherapy will be applied individually to treat selected patients, which is expected to further enhance the therapeutic effect of rectal cancer. This article reviewed the current status and development of preoperative radiochemotherapy for rectal cancer.

Corneal disease is a serious threat to human health. After recognizing the human cornea and corneal disease in early times, people began to hardly explore its treating method and eventually keratoplasty became one of the effective means. With the advancement of modern medicine and the development of molecular biology, keratoplasty had been greatly improved quantitatively and technically, and stem cell technology also begun to be used in keratoplasty. Although Chinese keratoplasty was already at the forefront of the international, there were still some problems to be solved, such as donor problem, its legal and ethical problems etc., the solution to which need to draw the experience of its history.

Objective: To study the relationship between the level of plasma transform growth factor-betal (TGF-betal), interleukin-6 (IL-6), thrombomodulin (TM) dose-volume factors and acute radiation pneumonitis (ARP)., Methods: Three dimensional conformal radiation therapy and chemotherapy were applied to 27 lung cancer patients, 15 esophageal carcinoma, and 1 thymoma patients. 19 patients received adjuvant radiochemotherapy, and 25 patients received concurrent radio-chemotherapy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect the serum IL-6, TGF-betal and TM levels of patients before radiotherapy (B-RT) and at 30 Gy(M-RT). ARP was graded according to NCI common toxicity criteria (CTCAE v 3.0), Grade 2 or more ARP was taken as the main end point. The relationship between the levels of serum TGF-betal, IL-6, TM, parameters of lung function and dose-volume factors, and the incidence rate of ARP were analyzed. Mean lung dose (MLD) and the Vx were considered as the dose-volume factors., Results: Among 44 patients, 15 of them had ARP. 9 got grade 2 ARP and 6 had grade 3. After received a dose of 30 Gy, TGF-betal value in M-RT was (396 +/- 338) and (866 +/- 270) pg/mL in non-ARP and ARP group (P = 0.000). The ARP incidence rate in <60 and > or =60 age group were 46.15% (12/26) and 16.67% (3/18) (P = 0.042), and 45.45% (15/33), 0% (0/11) (P = 0.017) in had smoking history and nonsmoking history group, respectively. 1 out of 13 patients (7.69%) who had increased M-RT TM value suffered of ARP, while 14 out of 31 patients (45.16%) whose M-RT TM value lower than pr-RT suffered of ARP (P = 0.044). The results of multivariate analysis implied that the MLD and the value of TGF-betal in M-RT were associated with severe ARP., Conclusion: TGF-beta1 and MLD are significant indicators of ARP. FEV1 actual value/predicted value% might have predicting effect for the severity of ARP.

Shanghai Pasteur Institute, found in 1899, was the first institute of medical research on rabies with modern western medical science, and was also the first rabies vaccine manufacturer in China. By making use of relevant archives and documents, the authors attempt to elaborate its foundation and evolution, which focus on the fields of infectious disease prevention, popularization of vaccine inoculation, vaccine manufacturing and cultivation of Chinese medical talents. Before 1949, two branches of the Institute had been set up. It was incorporated into the newly established PLA Academy of Military Medicine Sciences in 1951. As an orient branch of the original Pasteur Institute, Shanghai Pasteur Institute inherit the sprit and methodology of the original Institute, and make great contribution to the foundation and development of Chinese modern microbiology, immunology and modern medical education.

Background: The discovery of water channel aquaporins (AQPs) has greatly expanded the understanding of the regulation of the water permeability of biological membranes. Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) may be involved in fluid transport in numerous pathological conditions. The objective of the present study was to examine whether AQP1 is present in cultured rat pleural mesothelial cells (PMCs) and to investigate the specific inhibitory effect of RNA interference (RNAi) on AQP1 expression in PMCs, which may provide a new method for the further studies on the relation between expression of AQP1 in PMCs and pleural fluid removal in vivo., Methods: PMCs were isolated and cultured from rat pleura. The expression of AQP1 in PMCs was confirmed by immunocytochemical staining and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Two eukaryotic expression plasmid vectors of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) specific for the AQP1 gene of rat sapien were designed and constructed. The recombinant plasmid vectors were transfected into cultured rat PMCs by cation liposomes. Flow cytometry was used to screen the most effective shRNA at 48 hours after transfection. The expressions of AQP1 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting method at 48 hours after transfection., Results: RT-PCR and immunostaining revealed that AQP1 mRNA and protein were present in cultured rat PMCs. Two effective eukaryotic expression plasmid vectors of shRNA specific for the AQP1 gene were constructed successfully. The levels of the expression of AQP1 were inhibited by 83.45%, 90.93%, respectively, at mRNA level and 41.24%, 67.60%, respectively at protein level by two recombinant plasmids at 48 hours after transfection. The expression of AQP1 in PMCs transfected with plasmid was significantly lower than that of the cells transfected with the control plasmid HK and that of the untransfected cells (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in AQP1 expression between the control group and the group transfected with AQP1 nonspecific shRNAs (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: The expression of AQP1 was present in rat PMCs. The application of shRNA-AQP1 could markedly inhibit the expression of AQP1 in cultured rat PMCs. The use of RNAi is a promising tool for future research into the mechanisms of pleural fluid in vivo.

Modern medical education system of America was established in the 20th century. However, the beginning of American medical education was far early in the colonial times when the Medical College in Philadelphia was set up. The historical review on the establishment of the first medical college, Medical College in Philadelphia, is helpful to the understanding of the history of American medical education, the characteristics of modern medical education in the U. S., even to get some historical experience from the development of American medical education.

Objective: To investigate the influence of RNA interference (RNAi) on the expression of aquaporin-1 (AQP1) gene and to investigate the feasibility of gene therapy for pleural effusion., Methods: Two recombinant plasmids with shRNAs targeting the AQP1 gene, AQP1-1-pGenesil and AQP1-2-pGenesil-1 were constructed. Pleural mesothelial cells were obtained from rats, cultured, and randomly divided into 5 groups: blank control group, Lipofectamine 2000 control group, HK negative control group, AQP1-1-pGenesil-1 transfected group, and AQP1-2-pGenesil-1 transfected group. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of AQP1., Results: The mRNA expression levels of aquaporin-1 of the AQP1-1-pGenesil-1 and AQP1-2-pGenesil-1 transfected groups were inhibited by 83.5% and 90.9% respectively, and the protein expression levels of the AQP1-1-pGenesil-1 and AQP1-2-pGenesil-1 transfected groups were inhibited by 41.2% and 67.6% respectively., Conclusion: RNAi can successfully inhibit the expression of AQP1 and has the feature of sequence correlation of shRNA in the cultured rat pleural mesothelial cells. It may be used as a potential new approach for gene therapy of pleural effusion.

Objective: To observe the effects of recipes for replenishing qi and activating blood on p16, p21, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin D1 and cyclin E gene expressions in the liver of aging rats., Methods: A recipe for replenishing qi and a recipe for activating blood were administered to aging rats respectively, and the effects of the above recipes on the expressions of senescence related genes (p16, p21, PCNA, cyclin D1 and cyclin E) were examined by RT-PCR and Western blotting methods., Results: The expressions of p16, p21 and cyclin D1 mRNAs and proteins in the liver of the untreated aging rats were up-regulated, while the expressions of PCNA and cyclin E mRNAs and proteins decreased. As compared with the untreated aging rats, both recipes could down-regulate the expressions of cyclin D1 mRNA and protein and up-regulate the expressions of cyclin E mRNA and protein, but had no obvious effects on the expressions of mRNAs and proteins of p16, p21 and PCNA., Conclusion: Recipes for replenishing qi and activating blood can improve the liver cell proliferation of aging rats via down-regulating the expressions of cyclin D1 mRNA and protein and up-regulating the expressions of cyclin E mRNA and protein.

Objective: To investigate the association of cytochrome p450 gene (CYP1A1)MSP1 polymorphisms with preterm delivery., Methods: Between July 1999 and June 2001, we conducted a case-control study using infant-parent triads including 247 families with full-term infants and 249 families with preterm delivery infants in Anqing, China. We extracted DNA from umbilical cord blood of the infants and vein blood of their parents,and performed PCR followed by restriction enzyme MspI digestion for genotyping the CYP1A1 gene MSP1 polymorphism. We used log-linear modeling to analyze the association of CYP1A1 gene polymorphism with the risk of preterm delivery., Results: CYP1A1 gene C/C6235 increased the risk of preterm delivery both in infants (RR=1.80, 95% CI=1.02-3.18) and in their mothers (RR=1.82, 95% CI=1.11-2.98) significantly. There was no interaction between mothers' and children's CYP1A1 MSP1 genotypes. The variant alleles of CYP1A1 MSP1 of control triads accorded with Mendelian transmissions., Conclusion: Both infant and maternal CYP1A1 C/C6235 genotype both can increase the risk of preterm delivery in our study population, which suggests a possible role of human cytochrome P450 variability in the etiology of preterm delivery.

Background & Objective: Recent studies have shown that wild-type p53 gene can enhance the chemosensitivity of the majority of non-small cell lung cancers. p73 gene and its homologue p53 gene have significant sequence and functional similarities. This study was designed to investigate the effect of p73 gene on chemosensitivity of human lung adenocarcinoma cells H1299., Methods: The pcDNA3-HA-p73alpha plasmid were transferred into in vitro cultured human lung adenocarcinoma cell line H1299 with Dosper. The p73alpha positive cells which were resistant to G418 were selected out. The expression of exogenous P73alpha protein were examined by Western blot analysis. MTT assay were used to analyze the response of transfected cells to cisplatin (cDDP),adriamycin (ADM). The drug-induced apoptosis of transfected cells was measured by flow cytometry and TUNEL technique. The biological behavior changes of the cells were observed by colony formation assay., Results: The transfected lung adenocarcinoma cell line H1299 overexpressed P73alpha protein stably. MTT assay showed that the IC(50) values for cDDP and ADM were reduced to approximate 86.2% and 99.2% in the transfected cells compared with the untransfected cells, respectively. The low concentration of chemotherapeutic drugs (1.25 micromol/L cDDP or 0.05 micromol/L ADM) without inhibition essentially suppressed the growth of the transfected cells markedly. The cDDP-induced apoptosis rate increased from 10.1% to 38.4%(P< 0.01). The ADM-induced apoptosis rate increased from 12.1% to 49.3%(P< 0.01). Colony-formation assays showed that the colony number in transfected cells was decreased significantly by chemotherapeutic drugs compared with parental cells(P< 0.01). The sensitive enhancement ratios for cDDP or ADM were 1.8 and 2.6, respectively., Conclusion: p73 gene was capable of enhancing the sensitivity of H1299 cells to chemotherapeutic drugs such as cDDP and ADM, and the increased sensitivity was associated with the induction of apoptosis undepend p53 gene. It suggests the possibility of using p73 gene combined with anticancer agents to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

In the present communication, the dynamic release of amino acid (AA) transmitters induced by valproate (VPA) in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-kindled freely moving rats hippocampus has been determined. The results showed that glutamate and aspartate release were significantly increased during the seizure/interical periods, and markedly decreased after the application of 200mg/kg valproate. In contrast, gamma-aminobutyric acid and taurine release were markedly decreased during interical period, and significantly increased during the seizure period. Glycine release was similar to the case of glutamate and aspartate release. The increase of either gamma-aminobutyric acid/taurine or glycine releases during the seizure period could be inhibited by the application of valproate likewise. The results indicate that: (a) the imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters is really involved in epilepsy; (b) the modulation of valproate on the major amino acid neurotransmitters certainly plays one of important roles on antiepilepsy efficacy; (c) the pentylenetetrazol-kindled epileptogenesis model is a fit one for approaching the mechanisms of valproate modulating amino acid neurotransmitters.

Objective: To discuss the principle of diagnosis and surgical treatment of middle lobe diseases of right lung., Methods: We analysed the clinical data and prognosis of 163 patients who suffered from middle lobe diseases of right lung and received surgical treatment., Results: There were 97 men and 66 women in the group with the ratio 1.5:1, whose age arranged from 13 to 74 years. The shortest course was one week, and the longest 25 years. The average course was 30.3 months. 78 of 163 patients with tumors were malignant (47.9%) and 85 benign (52.1%). The number of the patients below 50 years old was 91 and 81.3% of them were benign, which was very markedly higher than that of the patients with malignant tumors (P < 0.01). The number of the patients above 50 years old was 72 and 84.7% were malignant, which was very markedly higher than that of the patients with benign tumors (P < 0.01); 8 of 11 patients (72.7%, 8/11) who suffered from tuberculosis combined with bronchoactesis. One of this group died from respiratory failure after operation, packed accumulation of fluid between lobes happened in seven cases (4.3%). The survival rate of 1, 3, 5 years of malignant patients at stages I, II were 88.4%, 62.8%, 51.2%, for that at stages III, IV were 76.5%, 41.2%, 14.7%. All of the four patients who received vage-resection, their malignant tumors recurred in one year after operation. No benign lesion recurred in 10 years., Conclusion: (1) It should be noticed that nearly half of middle lobe disease were malignant, especially to those whose ages were above 50 years old. (2) When the diagnosis is hard to be confirmed, open-thoracic exploration should be performed in order not to delay the treatment or enlarge the range of lung resection. (3) Most of middle lobe tuberculosis may be combined with bronchoactesis. (4) Setting drainage tube may be useful to decrease the risk of interlobe accumulation of fluid. (5) Vage resection is not suitable for carcinoma of middle lobe of lung.

Objective: To study the diagnostic criteria of severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), early intervention, and the effect of health education on the relationship between smoking and health., Methods: Data from 713 remissive COPD patients who had results of pulmonary function test in the past 10 years were reviewed. All patients were classified by correlative diagnostic criteria, and the results were compared with the diagnostic criteria of WHO Global Initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD). Other indexes such as history of smoking, quantity of smoking and the rate of giving up smoking were also analyzed., Results: According to the diagnostic criteria set by the Chinese Respiratory College in 1997 and traditional pulmonary function criteria, 339 patients were identified as having severe COPD, taking up 56.0% of all COPD patients; 200 patients were moderate (28.0%); 114 patients were mild (16.0%). FEV(1)/FVC in mild COPD patients was 70.5% +/- 1.1%, higher than the criteria of 70% in GOLD. Three hundred and thirty-five patients were smokers, taking up 46.9% of total patients. In these patients, 312 patients were men (93%) and 23 patients were women (7%). The average smoking history was 32.9 years, and the average quantity of daily smoking was 22. Two hundred sixteen patients had given up smoking which took up 64.5% of all the smokers., Conclusions: It was debatable that FEV(1)/FVC was decisive criteria for COPD diagnoses by GOLD and the revised diagnostic criteria of Chinese Respiratory College in 2002. It might miss diagnosing a number of COPD patients who having combined ventilatory disturbance or were in earlier stages. Only 15.9% of mild COPD patients had seen a doctor, that indicated a very low rate of early intervention which was disadvantageous for the prevention and cure of COPD. In contrast to the rate of 28.0% when giving up smoking in ordinary people who had received general intervention, the rate of giving up smoking in COPD patients remained 64.5% much higher and was dissatisfactory. Health education should be improved to include measures to give up smoking.

Objective: To disclose the relationship between the deposition of advanced glycosylation end products (AGE) in the retinal vascular tissues and damage of retinal vessels in diabetic retinopathy., Methods: Sixteen SD rats aged 2 months were divided into 4 groups, with 4 rats in each group. Rats in normal group received no treatment. Diabetes was induced by AGE in the diabetes group. Rat serum albumin (RSA, 40 mg/kg weight) was administered daily to healthy non-diabetic rats through tail veins for 2 weeks (RSA group). AGE-modified RSA was injected to rats in another group at the same route and dosage (AGE-RSA group). The number of pericytes in retinal capillary vessels was counted 2 weeks later., Results: After two weeks continuous AGE treatment, the average amount of pericytes of capillary vessel per 10 microscope visual field (x 100 magnification) in AGE group (4.31 +/- 0.34) was significantly less than that of RSA group (5.80 +/- 0.48) (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, in the AGE-RSA group, AGE were identified in the retinal vascular tissues by immunohistochemical staining., Conclusion: Injection of exogenous AGE into healthy rats induces vascular changes resembling those find in the diabetic retinopathy. AGE might be one of the independent pathogenic factors in the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy.