National Health and Family Planning Commission

About: National Health and Family Planning Commission is a government organization based out in Beijing, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Kashin–Beck disease. The organization has 2379 authors who have published 1440 publications receiving 20078 citations. The organization is also known as: Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China.

New chiral liquid crystal cyclic monomers based on diosgenin: synthesis and mesomorphism

Abstract: A series of new chiral liquid crystal (LC) intermediate compounds (LC-C1~LC-C4) containing diosgenyl groups and the corresponding cyclic LC aliphatic carbonate monomers (LC-M1~LC-M4) were synthesised to investigate the relationship between their structures and phase behaviour. The chemical structures of the compounds obtained in this study were characterised using FT-IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR measurement. The phase behaviour and mesophase structure were investigated with polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction measurement. As a result, LC-C1 and LC-C2 showed focal conic texture of the choleteric phase, while LC-C3 and LC-C4 with longer spacer length showed fan-shaped texture of a smectic A phase. The monomers (LC-M1~LC-M4) all exhibited focal conic texture of the choleteric phase on heating and cooling cycles. Furthermore, the effect of the spacer length on phase behaviour of the LC compounds was discussed.

Qualities of Life of Patients with Psychotic Disorders and Their Family Caregivers: Comparison between Hospitalised and Community-Based Treatment in Beijing, China.

Abstract: Background Community healthcare in mainland China is still at an early stage. The qualities of life (QOLs) of patients with psychotic disorders undergoing rehabilitation in hospitals or in the community, as well as those of their caregivers, may differ from each other. Objectives The study was performed to evaluate the QOL of patients with psychotic disorders and assess the differences in the QOLs between patients receiving care in diverse settings (hospital vs. the community). Methods This study was a descriptive study, in which all cases were collected from two psychiatric hospitals and five communities. Patients (n = 43) and caregivers (n = 40) in the psychiatric hospitals were grouped according to the length of illness and areas of residence and these criteria were also used to group patients (n = 55) and caregivers (n = 59) in the community. All participants were assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF (Chinese version). ANOVA was adopted to compare the QOL scores among the four groups (cases and caregivers in two settings), while confounding factors, such as age and marital status, were adjusted. Results Among the four groups of participants, namely, hospitalised and community patients and their corresponding caregivers, community samples had a significantly lower QOL score. The QOL score for the social relationships domain of the hospitalised patients’ caregivers was significantly higher than that of the caregivers of community patients (P = 0.019). Conclusion Community patients and their caregivers tend to have lower QOL scores than their hospitalised counterparts. The support of family members is urgently needed to provide better care for patients.

The Per-1 Short Isoform Inhibits de novo HIV-1 Transcription in Resting CD4+ T-cells.

Abstract: Background Understanding of the restriction of HIV-1 transcription in resting CD4+ Tcells is critical to find a cure for AIDS. Although many negative factors causing HIV-1 transcription blockage in resting CD4+ T-cells have been found, there are still unknown mechanisms to explore. Objective To explore the mechanism for the suppression of de novo HIV-1 transcription in resting CD4+ T-cells. Methods In this study, a short isoform of Per-1 expression plasmid was transfected into 293T cells with or without Tat's presence to identify Per-1 as a negative regulator for HIV-1 transcription. Silencing of Per-1 was conducted in resting CD4+ T-cells or monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) to evaluate the antiviral activity of Per-1. Additionally, we analyzed the correlation between Per-1 expression and viral loads in vivo, and silenced Per-1 by siRNA technology to investigate the potential anti-HIV-1 roles of Per-1 in vivo in untreated HIV-1-infected individuals. Results We found that short isoform Per-1 can restrict HIV-1 replication and Tat ameliorates this inhibitory effect. Silencing of Per-1 could upregulate HIV-1 transcription both in resting CD4+ Tcells and MDMs. Moreover, Per-1 expression is inversely correlated with viral loads in Rapid progressors (RPs) in vivo. Conclusion These data together suggest that Per-1 is a novel negative regulator of HIV-1 transcription. This restrictive activity of Per-1 to HIV-1 replication may contribute to HIV-1 latency in resting CD4+ T-cells.

The effect of jugular bulb-vestibular aqueduct dehiscence on hearing and balance.

Abstract: Conclusion: This study suggests that jugular bulb–vestibular aqueduct dehiscence (JBVAD) does not affect the hearing or balance functions of the inner ear. Objectives: Since JBVAD may cause impairment of the inner ear and induce hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo, this study was to investigate the effect of JBVAD on hearing and balance. Method: Patients undergoing temporal bone computed tomography (TBCT) scans from May 2013 to December 2013 at a tertiary referral hospital were reviewed. The topographic relationship between the jugular bulb (JB) and the vestibular aqueduct was assessed. The findings were classified as normal when there was always a bony structure between the two structures and as dehiscent when the bony coverage separating the two structures was absent. Clinical data were collected via electronic records and clinical follow-up. Results: A total of 1313 out of 8325 patients were diagnosed with a HJB. Forty-six patients showed JBVAD. The prevalence of dehiscence was 0.6% in patients...

Serum ZAG Levels Were Associated with eGFR Mild Decrease in T2DM Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy

Abstract: Objective. To investigate the changes of serum zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with eGFR mild decrease. Subjects and Methods. A total of 438 T2DM patients (61.3 ± 4.0 y) were recruited and the demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical parameters were all collected. Serum ZAG levels were determined by commercially available ELISA kits. Results. The proportion of T2DM patients with the high tertile ZAG levels was 11.9% higher in patients with mildly decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ( . The probability of the mL/min/1.73 m2 in patients with the high ZAG levels was 94% higher than those with the low serum ZAG levels after adjusting for age, gender, and education [OR = 1.94, 95% CI (1.17–3.23), ]. This phenomenon was more likely to be observed in the condition of uACR ≥ 2.7 mg/mmol, WC ≥ 90 cm for men, or WC ≥ 85 cm for women. Conclusion. Serum ZAG levels were firstly found to be related with eGFR in T2DM patients. The patients with the high tertile ZAG levels were more likely to have mildly eGFR decrease, especially for female patients with higher uACR and bigger WC.