Psychometric comparison of students in medicine and other faculties: social factors and psychologic symptoms

Few studies have investigated personality and psychopathological profiles associated to the choice of university education. Our study examined students from four faculties of Turin University, in Turin, Italy (Medicine, Engineering, Education, Law), comparing sociodemographic features, personality characteristics and psychiatric symptoms. A heterogeneous group of 1,323 students were assessed using a semistructured interview, the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-Revised (PDQ-R), and the Symptoms Checklist 90 (SCL-90). Statistical analysis included four logistic regression models, each fitted for one faculty, considering the other three as a control group. Associations were found in Medical and Engineering students concerning type of high school, school final score, and father?s socioeducational level. Factors associated with students of Law and Education included socioeducational characteristics, but stronger correlations were seen with PDQ-R personality scales and SCL-90 symptom clusters. In conclusion, four different profiles were identified. Medicine was not significantly related to personality and psychiatric factors. Engineering was related to male gender, choice of technical high school and father?s social level. Law was related to female gender and narcissistic personality profile. These data may be useful for counseling activities addressed to high school and university students.     

In memoriam Professor Enrique Ega?a, MD (1912-1997).

Enrique Ega?a-Barahona. Born Santiago, Chile, 10 March 1912. Deceased Santiago, Chile, 23 November 1997. MD, University of Chile, 1936. Rockefeller Foundation Fellow at Harvard University Medical School, 1940-1944. Professor of Pathophysiology, 1963; Director, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of medicine, University of Chile. Author of a Textbook on General Pathophysiology (1963) and of many scientific articles in Chilean and American medical journals. Strong supporter of evidence-based medicine as well as of medical education by involving students in short research projects.     

水体pH对伪鱼腥藻生长及叶绿素荧光参数的影响

在实验室条件下, 以伪鱼腥藻(Pseudanabaena sp.)为研究对象, 研究了pH对伪鱼腥藻生长、叶绿素荧光参数(Fv/Fm、ETR、Ik)的影响, 以期了解伪鱼腥藻对水体pH的适应及调节能力。试验分为2组, 一组每天测定水体实际pH后调整藻液pH 为初始设定值, 另一组在试验开始时调节pH 至设定值后不人为调节, 每天测定pH。结果表明: 伪鱼腥藻偏好碱性环境, 并对水体pH有很强的调节和适应能力。每天调控pH为11的试验组生长情况最好; 不人为调控pH试验中, pH 5—11试验组pH最终趋于10.9—11.5, 人为调控pH试验中, pH 7—11试验组pH最终趋于9.5—11.3。pH为3和13条件下, 伪鱼腥藻均不能生长。pH 5—11范围内, Fv/Fm、ETR随pH增大而增大, pH 7—11范围内各组Ik值差异不大。     

不同酿酒酵母菌株来源异麦芽糖酶IMA1的克隆、表达及表征（英文）

【目的】异麦芽糖酶IMA1在充分利用含有α-1,6-O-糖苷键的低聚糖中起着关键作用。【方法】在本研究中,对来自4株酿酒酵母菌株(包括3株嗜酸性菌株)来源的异麦芽糖酶IMA1进行克隆、表达、纯化和表征。【结果】研究发现,4种异麦芽糖酶IMA1表现出类似的pH和温度依赖性,但表现出不同的动力学参数和热稳定性。IMA1-A对α-MG(α-甲基葡糖苷)表现出最高的结合亲和力、转换数、催化效率和热稳定性。结构和序列分析表明,2个远离活性位点和底物结合位点的氨基酸的差异对异麦芽糖酶IMA1的动力学参数和热稳定性有重要影响。【结论】本研究结果对进一步研究异麦芽糖酶IMA1的结构-功能关系奠定了基础。     

雌激素受体α抑制剂MPP在小鼠囊胚形成和滋养层干细胞中影响YAP核定位

目的研究雌激素受体α(estrogen receptorα,ERα)抑制剂甲基-哌啶-吡唑(methyl-piperidino-pyrazole,MPP)在小鼠桑葚胚和滋养层干细胞(trophoblast stem cells,TSCs)中对YAP的影响。方法收集昆明(kunming,KM)小鼠8-细胞胚,置于0μmol/L(对照组)和5μmol/L(实验组)MPP中培养,分别于8h、12h和24h后收集各组桑葚胚,采用免疫荧光技术观察YAP表达,采用Real Time-PCR检测MPP处理24h后Yap mRNA表达变化;将小鼠TSCs置于0μmol/L、2.5μmol/L、5μmol/L和10μmol/L MPP中培养,48h后观察细胞形态改变,分别检测Sox2、YAP、Cdx2 mRNA和蛋白表达水平。结果小鼠8-细胞胚经MPP处理24h后,桑葚胚YAP蛋白核定位水平降低,Yap mRNA水平无显著改变;经MPP处理48h后,5μmol/L组小鼠TSCs细胞出现细胞团块,10μmol/L组细胞增殖明显受抑制;与对照组相比,5μmol/L组细胞Sox2 mRNA表达水平升高,Yap和Cdx2 mRNA水平无显著改变,团块状细胞中的YAP蛋白失去明显的核内定位,SOX2和CDX2阳性细胞的表达更加密集。结论 ERα在小鼠桑葚胚和TSCs中调控YAP核定位,其在TSCs细胞中的作用与CDX2和SOX2的表达有关。     

胃排空检测方法的研究及展望

胃排空是衡量消化道功能的一个重要指标,在探讨消化道疾病病因学、药物动力学以及疾病的诊断和治疗方面有着不可或缺的作用。近年来,一系列成熟的检测方法已经被用来测量人体胃排空,包括插管法、实时超声、放射性显像及呼吸试验等,但这些检测方法在实验动物及动物临床医学的应用还相对较少,正确评估实验动物胃排空能力的技术对于药物药理学、生物利用度和胃肠疾病诊断等的研究非常重要。本文就常用的几个胃排空检测方法做一阐述,希望这些方法能为动物胃排空检测提供新思路。     

药物对基于SERS技术的尿液中PDGF-BB检测影响研究

本文旨在研究基于表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)技术检测尿液中血小板衍生生长因子(PDGF-BB)从而对冠状动脉堵塞程度进行快速无损诊断的方法是否同样适用于长期服用药物(阿司匹林、瑞舒伐他汀或硫酸氢氯吡格雷)的冠心病患者或行经皮冠状动脉介入手术(PCI术)后病人的冠状动脉堵塞程度检测。首先基于该方法对13例长期服用药物(阿司匹林、瑞舒伐他汀或硫酸氢氯吡格雷)的冠心病患者和13例行PCI术后病人的尿液样本进行检测,发现其SERS光谱中均无PDGF-BB位于1 509 cm^-1的拉曼特征峰。然后进一步分析PDGFBB水溶液与三种药物的SERS光谱,也均未发现1 509 cm^-1的拉曼特征峰。结果表明,这三种药物均对PDGFBB的SERS信号产生了影响,可见该方法并不适用于长期服用药物的冠心病患者或行PCI病人术后的冠状动脉堵塞程度的检测。     

The perception of students on the use of animals in higher education at the Federal University of Paraná, Southern Brazil

The use of animals in education and research is a controversial issue that involves ethical considerations. In Brazil, Act 11,794, which was approved in 2008, established the National Council on the Control of Animal Experimentation (CONCEA) and a database of institutions that use animals for research and education (CIUCA). This legislation also set out the regulations for the use of animals. In this study, we have evaluated the ethical issues involved in the use of animals for educational purposes at the Federal University of Paraná, through a qualitative-quantitative analysis that relied on written questionnaires. Our objective was to find out the opinions of students and staff from different academic fields, and at different stages in their professional development, on the use of animals for educational purposes. The study involved 101 students and 20 lecturers (i.e. tenure-track professors and all those who teach the students) in Biology, Pharmacology, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. Approximately half of the students (45.5%) did not know the legislation that regulates the use of animals in education, and most of the lecturers believed that learning goals could not be achieved with alternative methods. Only 38.9% of the lecturers and 31.9% of the students trusted the usefulness of alternative methods. Furthermore, recent graduates were as unaware of the legislation, as were students in the first two years of their university courses. These results suggest that it is necessary to considerably expand the discussion on alternatives to animal use in the academic environment.     

The development of STEAM educational policy to promote student creativity and social empowerment

ABSTRACT

The Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) movement argues that broad-based education that promotes creativity recognizes student learning diversity, increases student engagement and can potentially enhance Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning by embracing cross-cutting translational skills common to STEM and arts and design disciplines. This article describes and discusses the advocacy strategy designed at Rhode Island School of Design to promote STEAM education policy. Recommendations presented include (a) recognition of the arts (and design) as core subjects alongside STEM; (b) addressing issues of equity/resources to deliver arts education; (c) calling for research into potential outcomes of STEAM educational models; and (d) funding for professional development and latitude for teachers to explore interdisciplinary learning.     

The oxidative DNA damage response: A review of research undertaken with Tsinghua and Xiangya students at the University of Pittsburgh

Endogenous stress and exogenous toxicants (chemicals and UV light) alter genetic information either directly or indirectly through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby driving genomic instability in cells and promoting tumorigenesis. All living cells try to faithfully preserve and transmit their genomic information from one generation to the next using DNA repair mechanisms to repair oxidative DNA damage to prevent cancer or premature aging. Oxidative DNA damage comprises a mixture of DNA lesions including base damage, DNA single strand breaks (SSBs), and DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). This review summarizes some of the studies on DNA damage response at a defined genome locus that are performed by students from the Tsinghua University School of Medicine and the School of Medicine of Central South University (Xiangya Hospital) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. A summary of their work highlights the continuous contribution of the students to a particular research program and exemplifies the achievements of this China-U.S. collaborative training program.     

A brief history of the Graduate Studies Program at The New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden initiated its Graduate Studies Program through a cooperative agreement with Columbia University in 1896. This arrangement continued until the late 1960s, when the Biology Department at Columbia chose to emphasize laboratory-related research and discontinued its organismal programs. At the time a new partnership was formed with what was to become Lehman College of the City University of New York—a program that has continued through the present. Since the inception of its Graduate Studies Program 100 years ago, the Garden has provided sponsorship, guidance, and resources to help more than 200 studients receive graduate degrees. In recent years the Garden has expanded its graduate program to include four additional university affiliates: the Department of Biology at New York University, the Institute of Systematic Botany at Cornell University, the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University, and, in a new agreement with an old partner, the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation at Columbia University.     

Milton C. Winternitz and the Yale Institute of Human Relations: a brief chapter in the history of social medicine

This paper considers the antecedent events that led to the development of Yale's Institute of Human Relations, the program of interdisciplinary research and teaching established, and the principal protagonists, James Rowland Angell, President of Yale University, and Milton C. Winternitz, Dean of the School of Medicine, both of whom were committed to the concept that medicine is a social science.     

X线全身照射对2型糖尿病KKAy小鼠造血免疫系统功能的影响

目的观察X线全身照射对2型糖尿病模型KKAy小鼠的造血免疫系统功能的损伤作用,并与对照C57小鼠进行比较。方法KKAy小鼠,分为对照组和照射组,照射组小鼠经X线全身照射,剂量4Gy,C57小鼠作为对照。照射后15d检测小鼠的外周血常规,流式细胞术检测骨髓中造血祖细胞、造血干细胞和长期造血干细胞的比例,脾中B细胞和T细胞的比例,胸腺中CD4CD8双阳性T细胞、CD4单阳性T细胞和CD8单阳性T细胞的比例。通过粒细胞集落形成能力实验评价小鼠造血祖细胞的功能。结果照射前KKAy小鼠的HSC和LT-HSC的比例低于C57小鼠。4Gy全身照射后,KKAy小鼠的外周血WBC、RBC、PLT、HGB和LYM%分别下降了68.42%、12.17%、8.78%、30.12%、70.84%;骨髓中HPC、HSC和LT-HSC的比例分别下降了34.02%、29.49%、35.74%;脾B细胞和T细胞的比例分别下降了57.85%、58.81%;胸腺CD4CD8双阳性细胞的比例下降了51.70%。KKAy小鼠的骨髓HSC、LT-HSC、外周血RBC和HGB的降低幅度显著低于C57小鼠。结论4Gy全身照射损伤KKAy小鼠的造血免疫系统功能,KKAy小鼠可能比C57小鼠表现出对电离辐射较强的耐受性。     

利用CRISPR-Cas9敲除Tyr基因制作白化C57BL/6N小鼠

目的 为了获得白化的C57BL/6N小鼠,扩大其在皮肤移植和胚胎干细胞方面研究中的应用。方法 通过体外设计合成Cas9 mRNA和系列sgRNA(single guide RNAs),注射到小鼠的受精卵内,破坏合成C57BL/6N小鼠黑色素生成必须的酪氨酸酶(tyrosinase,TYR)基因序列的第1和第2外显子,产生基因突变,获得F0代白化的C57BL/6N小鼠,然后经过重复回交和自交,形成白化C57BL/6N小鼠近交系。结果 经过注射两对sgRNA,成功的获得了F0代的白化小鼠,在Tyr基因的第1和第2外显子中均发生了缺失突变,小鼠可以将突变基因传递给后代,并在其后代中产生了纯合的白色C57BL/6N小鼠,最后对白化小鼠突变类型进行了分析。结论 通过CRISPR-Cas9技术破坏了小鼠Tyr基因,成功地建立了白化C57BL/6N小鼠近交系,为将来的嵌合体制作、组织移植提供了新的研究工具。     

邻苯二甲酸酯类污染物雌激素结合活性筛查

以倏逝波光纤荧光生物传感器为平台,以邻苯二甲酸酯类(PAEs)污染物为靶标,优化了基于受体作用理论的生物传感分析技术,实现了PAEs雌激素结合活性的定性筛查。对7种典型邻苯二甲酸酯的雌激素结合活性测试结果为BBP>DBP>DIPP,其他4种物质几乎无雌激素结合活性,结果与文献广泛报道结论相一致,验证了所建立方法的准确性。在最优测试条件下,光纤传感界面可再生300次以上,为雌激素活性污染物的筛查提供了一种低成本、自动化方法。     

An update on hormone replacement therapy: health and medicine for women: a multidisciplinary, evidence-based review of mid-life health concerns

The Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the Yale School of Medicine hosted a daylong continuing medical education (CME) symposium titled "Health and Medicine for Women: A Multidisciplinary, Evidence-Based Review of Mid-Life Health Concerns" in September 2010. A number of speakers discussed current research on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and re-evaluated the results of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a landmark, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that still sparks debate almost a decade after its conclusion. This article summarizes this discussion and highlights directions for future study.     

2K09 and thereafter : the coming era of integrative bioinformatics, systems biology and intelligent computing for functional genomics and personalized medicine research

Significant interest exists in establishing synergistic research in bioinformatics, systems biology and intelligent computing. Supported by the United States National Science Foundation (NSF), International Society of Intelligent Biological Medicine (http://www.ISIBM.org), International Journal of Computational Biology and Drug Design (IJCBDD) and International Journal of Functional Informatics and Personalized Medicine, the ISIBM International Joint Conferences on Bioinformatics, Systems Biology and Intelligent Computing (ISIBM IJCBS 2009) attracted more than 300 papers and 400 researchers and medical doctors world-wide. It was the only inter/multidisciplinary conference aimed to promote synergistic research and education in bioinformatics, systems biology and intelligent computing. The conference committee was very grateful for the valuable advice and suggestions from honorary chairs, steering committee members and scientific leaders including Dr. Michael S. Waterman (USC, Member of United States National Academy of Sciences), Dr. Chih-Ming Ho (UCLA, Member of United States National Academy of Engineering and Academician of Academia Sinica), Dr. Wing H. Wong (Stanford, Member of United States National Academy of Sciences), Dr. Ruzena Bajcsy (UC Berkeley, Member of United States National Academy of Engineering and Member of United States Institute of Medicine of the National Academies), Dr. Mary Qu Yang (United States National Institutes of Health and Oak Ridge, DOE), Dr. Andrzej Niemierko (Harvard), Dr. A. Keith Dunker (Indiana), Dr. Brian D. Athey (Michigan), Dr. Weida Tong (FDA, United States Department of Health and Human Services), Dr. Cathy H. Wu (Georgetown), Dr. Dong Xu (Missouri), Drs. Arif Ghafoor and Okan K Ersoy (Purdue), Dr. Mark Borodovsky (Georgia Tech, President of ISIBM), Dr. Hamid R. Arabnia (UGA, Vice-President of ISIBM), and other scientific leaders. The committee presented the 2009 ISIBM Outstanding Achievement Awards to Dr. Joydeep Ghosh (UT Austin), Dr. Aidong Zhang (Buffalo) and Dr. Zhi-Hua Zhou (Nanjing) for their significant contributions to the field of intelligent biological medicine.     

Renal Dialysis Center Operational Plans

The Southern California region has available a Renal-Dialysis Center at the University of Southern California School of Medicine and the Los Angeles County General Hospital. The center is prepared to carry out dialysis, transplantation, research and education in nephrology.Patient selection for dialysis will be randomized among optimum candidates.The high cost of dialysis per patient might be reduced through home dialysis and by successful homotransplantation. The center plans to arrange transplantation of cadaver kidneys matched by tissue typing to a recipient undergoing hemodialysis. Such an approach will keep a constant turnover of patients and will help in research efforts toward better understanding of problems in nephrology.