Increased concentrations of interleukin 1-β in whole blood cultures supernatants after 12 weeks of moderate endurance exercise

The aim of the study was to investigate whether a regular moderate endurance exercise programme influenced the in vitro cytokine synthesis by stimulated whole blood cultures. To this end, eight healthy subjects exercised moderately by running for 3-5 h a week over a period of 12 weeks, whilst seven other healthy subjects served as the control group. The intensity of the exercise was determined by lactic acid concentrations in the blood which were maintained between 1.8 and 2.5 mmol x l(-1). Over the period of training the running velocity producing the 4 mmol x l(-1) lactic acid threshold increased from 2.86 (SD 0.83) m x s(-1) to 3.06+/-0.79 m x s(-1) (P < or = 0.008). Blood samples were taken at rest before and after the training programme. The following blood parameters were determined: leucocyte count, differential leucocyte count, lymphocyte subpopulations [CD14 positive (+)/CD45+, CD4+/ CD25+, CD8+, CD16+/CD122+]. Whole blood cultures were stimulated with lipopolysaccarides [interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-6] and staphylococcal enterotoxin B [IL-2, soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL2-R) and interferon (IFN)-gamma]. Cytokine concentrations in the supernatants were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The white blood cell count, differential leucocyte count, lymphocyte subset distribution and the expression of the CD25 and CD122 antigen on lymphocytes were unchanged by training. After the training programme the IL-1 beta production changed significantly [1496 (SD 264) pg ml(-1) before, compared to 2127 (SD 672) pg ml(-1) after training, P < or = 0.008]. In the control group these parameters remained unchanged. With respect to changes in the values in both groups the syntheses of IL-1 beta (P < or = 0.023) and IL-6 (P < or = 0.021) were significantly higher after regular training. The syntheses of IL-2, sIL-2 and INF-gamma were not significantly influenced. Regular endurance exercise influenced the in vitro production of monocyte derived cytokines, while the effect of exercise on the cytokines synthesized by T-cells appeared to be of lesser importance.     

探究式课程设计在医学生临床决策能力培养中的探索

临床决策能力是一个医生的必备能力之一，是医学教育中必要且重要的培养目标之一。目前对医学生临床决策能力的培养没有形成完备的体系，一般安排在高年级阶段进行，为时较晚。如何把临床决策能力的培养融入低年级基础课中，以尽早开展能力训练值得探索研究。本研究以医学遗传学课程为例，结合探究式教学方式的特点，模拟临床决策思维过程的各细分模块，优化了课程设计，探索在低年级课程中融入临床决策能力的培养。结果提示：探究式课程设计能充分调动学生主动性，增加学生分析、思考的投入；在教师引导下，促使学生依循临床决策思维的过程得到有效地训练。最后，整理分析了探究式课程设计及实践的思路，总结了设计原则和要点，反思了教学中的经验得失。     

基于图自编码器和协同训练预测miRNA[]与疾病的关联

近年来,越来越多的生物学实验研究表明,microRNA (miRNA)在人类复杂疾病的发展中发挥着重要作用。因此,预测miRNA与疾病之间的关联有助于疾病的准确诊断和有效治疗。由于传统的生物学实验是一种昂贵且耗时的方式,于是许多基于生物学数据的计算模型被提出来预测miRNA与疾病的关联。本研究提出了一种端到端的深度学习模型来预测miRNA-疾病关联关系,称为MDAGAC。首先,通过整合疾病语义相似性,miRNA功能相似性和高斯相互作用谱核相似性,构建miRNA和疾病的相似性图。然后,通过图自编码器和协同训练来改善标签传播的效果。该模型分别在miRNA图和疾病图上建立了两个图自编码器,并对这两个图自编码器进行了协同训练。miRNA图和疾病图上的图自编码器能够通过初始关联矩阵重构得分矩阵,这相当于在图上传播标签。miRNA-疾病关联的预测概率可以从得分矩阵得到。基于五折交叉验证的实验结果表明,MDAGAC方法可靠有效,优于现有的几种预测miRNA-疾病关联的方法。