Depression in Medical School: The Influence of Morningness‐Eveningness

Medical students are at higher risk for depression, affecting not only their lives but also patient care. This article studied a population of medical students engaged in lecture‐based learning regarding the presence of depressive symptoms and its relation to morningness‐eveningness. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Beck Depressive Inventory scale (BDI>10), and diurnal preference was assessed by the Horne & Östberg Morningness/Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). Family history of depression and involvement in regular physical activity were also investigated. A total of 161 students, 77 (47.8%) males, aged 19 to 30 yrs (22.1±2.1) living in a city close to the equator were evaluated. Fifty‐three individuals (32.9%) had depressive symptoms. Depressive individuals showed a trend to be female (p=0.07). Also, female gender showed a non‐significant shift toward morningness. Fifty‐eight (36.0%) subjects participated in regular physical activity. In 57 cases (35.4%), there was a history of depression in the family. Fifteen individuals (9.3%) were definitely evening type, 42 (26.1%) were moderately evening type, 44 (27.3%) were indifferent, 42 (26.1%) were moderately morning type, and 18 (11.2%) were definitely morning type. Family history of depression (OR=0.29, 95% CI=1.37–6.12) and sedentary life (OR=0.28, 95% CI=0.12–0.65) were associated with depressive symptoms. Eveningness was associated with depressive symptoms (OR=0.66, 95% CI=0.50–0.88), and this association remained significant after adjusting for the presence of familial depression and physical activity (OR=0.71, 95% CI=0.52–0.95). In conclusion, depressive symptoms are independently associated with “eveningness” in medical students. These results should be confirmed by future studies involving a larger number of subjects.     

Flow cytometric assessment of cytotype distributions within local populations of Phragmites australis (Poaceae) around Lake Biwa,the largest lake in Japan

Phragmites australis (Poaceae) is a clonal perennial that is an important component of wetland ecosystems worldwide. Using flow cytometry, we examined the cytotype distributions within five populations of P. australis located in the vicinity of Lake Biwa. As in previous reports, two ploidy levels, octoploid (2n = 8x = 96) and decaploid (2n = 10x = 120), were identified, which are assumed to be the main cytotypes around the lake. The coexistence of two cytotypes was detected in four of the five populations, suggesting the relatively common occurrence of mixed ploidy levels in the populations around Lake Biwa. Although intermingled cytotype distributions were observed in some populations, the 9x cytotype, that is, the expected outcome of inter‐cytotype crosses, was not observed, indicating limited gene flow between the two cytotypes.     

Concepts and analysis of mass extinction with the late Ordovician event as an example

Twelve groups of fossils, including graptolites, brachiopods, nautiloids, trilobites, corals, crinoids, bryozoans, conodonts, ostracods, gastropods, chitinozoans, and acritarchs expired in different but substantial magnitude and global extent during the late Caradoc to latest Ashgill. It indicates a multiple‐episodic mass extinction containing the possible Prologue (late Caradoc), Climax episode (Rawtheyan) and Epilogue (late Hirnantian). The main causes of this mass extinction are recognized as a global sea‐level lowering in the climax and remarkable rapid rise at the final, and global cooling. The Chinese data, especially from the South China Paleoplate, are evaluated first. They are significant for explaining this global bioevent.     

青藏高原东缘常见种长毛风毛菊(Saussurea hieracioides)的繁殖分配

对分布在青藏高原东缘高寒草甸常见种长毛风毛菊的6个海拔梯度(3200～3850m)18个居群的繁殖分配进行了研究,结果表明:长毛风毛菊随海拔的升高个体和营养器官减小,繁殖的投入增加;随着海拔的升高,长毛风毛菊的个体管状小花数目和种子数目减少,管状小花重量和百粒重增大;个体管状小花的数目及重量和个体种子的数目及重量间存在权衡关系;长毛风毛菊的个体大小和繁殖分配存在负相关关系。在资源受限的环境下,长毛风毛菊以减少管状小花数目和种子的数目来增加管状小花重量和百粒重,是保证有性繁殖成功的策略之一。     

Macroinvertebrate community structure,secondary production and trophic‐level dynamics in urban streams affected by non‐point‐source pollution

1. Despite non‐point‐source (NPS) pollution being perhaps the most ubiquitous stressor affecting urban streams, there is a lack of research assessing how urban NPS pollution affects stream ecosystems. We used a natural experimental design approach to assess how stream macroinvertebrate community structure, secondary production and trophic structure are influenced by urban NPS pollution in six streams. 2. Differences in macroinvertebrate community structure and secondary production among sites were highly correlated with stream‐water specific conductivity and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) concentrations. Macroinvertebrate richness, the Shannon diversity index and the Shannon evenness index were all negatively correlated with specific conductivity. These patterns were driven by differences in the richness and production of EPT and other intolerant taxa. Production of the five most productive taxa, tolerant taxa, non‐insect taxa and primary consumers were all positively correlated with stream‐water DIP. 3. Despite the positive correlation between primary consumer production and DIP, there was no correlation between macroinvertebrate predator production and either total or primary consumer macroinvertebrate production. This was observed because DIP was positively correlated with the production of non‐insect macroinvertebrate taxa assumed to be relatively unavailable for macroinvertebrate predator consumption. After removing production of these taxa, we observed a strong positive correlation between macroinvertebrate predator production and production of available prey. 4. Our results suggest that urban NPS pollution not only affects macroinvertebrate community structure, but also alters secondary production and trophic‐level dynamics. Differences in taxon production in our study indicate the potential for altered energy flow through stream food webs and potential effects on subsidies of aquatic insect prey to riparian food webs.     

Association of the CAG repeat polymorphisms in androgen receptor gene with polycystic ovary syndrome: A systemic review and meta-analysis

Background

Many studies have reported the associations of polymorphic CAG repeats in androgen receptor (AR) gene with PCOS risk, but with inconsistent results. So, the aim of present meta-analysis was to clarify such inconsistence, so as to provide more conclusive results.

Methods

PubMed was searched for the eligible reports published until February 2012 without language limitation. The studies reporting the relationship between CAG repeat length and PCOS were selected for the meta-analysis according to the inclusion criteria. Two reviewers independently extracted the data and evaluated the study quality.

Principal findings

As for the relationship between CAG repeat length and PCOS risk, the pooled results showed that the biallelic mean was not significantly different between PCOS and controls (SMD − 0.03, 95% CI − 0.16–0.10, P = 0.603), and that the ORs of PCOS were not demonstrated for the individuals with the biallelic mean less than median (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.68–1.35, P = 0.794), with the short CAG allele (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.80–1.10, P = 0.424), or with the X-weighted biallelic mean (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.46–1.41, P = 0.447). Further, as for the relationship between CAG repeat length and T levels in PCOS patients, the biallelic mean was not significantly different between PCOS patients with high T and those with low T (SMD 0.79, 95% CI − 0.12–1.70, P = 0.088), while the summary correlation r indicated that the CAG biallelic mean appeared to be positively associated with T levels in PCOS (r 0.20, 95% CI 0.11–0.30, p = 0.000).

Conclusions

This meta-analysis demonstrates no evident association between the CAG length variations in AR gene and PCOS risk, while the CAG length appears to be positively associated with T levels in PCOS patients.     

二斑叶螨抗螺螨酯品系GST基因的克隆与表达分析

【目的】揭示二斑叶螨Tetranychus urticae对螺螨酯的分子抗性机理。【方法】利用RT-PCR克隆了二斑叶螨的谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶（glutathione S-transferase, GST)基因 cDNA 全长序列, 采用生物信息学软件分析了克隆基因的编码蛋白特性; 利用实时荧光定量PCR 方法分析GST基因在二斑叶螨的螺螨酯抗性与敏感品系中的表达差异。【结果】克隆获得的谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶2个基因分别被命名为TuGSTd1和TuGSTd2 (GenBank登录号分别为： KC445659和KC445660)。序列分析发现, TuGSTd1的开放阅读框长度为648 bp, 编码215个氨基酸, 分子量约为24.47 kDa, 理论等电点为5.49; TuGSTd2的开放阅读框为648 bp, 编码215个氨基酸, 分子量约为24.57 kDa, 理论等电点为6.33。系统发育分析表明这两个基因与桔全爪螨Panonychus citri Delta家族的GST基因的氨基酸序列一致性为93%。实时荧光定量PCR 结果表明, TuGSTd1和TuGSTd2在二斑叶螨抗螺螨酯品系中的相对表达量分别为敏感品系的5.60和3.75 倍。【结论】 GST基因在二斑叶螨抗螺螨酯品系中的相对表达量均显著高于敏感品系, 据此推测GST基因的过量表达可能与其对螺螨酯的抗性形成有关。     

Shining light on nanotechnology to help repair and regeneration

Phototherapy can be used in two completely different but complementary therapeutic applications. While low level laser (or light) therapy (LLLT) uses red or near-infrared light alone to reduce inflammation, pain and stimulate tissue repair and regeneration, photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses the combination of light plus non-toxic dyes (called photosensitizers) to produce reactive oxygen species that can kill infectious microorganisms and cancer cells or destroy unwanted tissue (neo-vascularization in the choroid, atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries). The recent development of nanotechnology applied to medicine (nanomedicine) has opened a new front of advancement in the field of phototherapy and has provided hope for the development of nanoscale drug delivery platforms for effective killing of pathological cells and to promote repair and regeneration. Despite the well-known beneficial effects of phototherapy and nanomaterials in producing the killing of unwanted cells and promoting repair and regeneration, there are few reports that combine all three elements i.e. phototherapy, nanotechnology and, tissue repair and regeneration. However, these areas in all possible binary combinations have been addressed by many workers. The present review aims at highlighting the combined multi-model applications of phototherapy, nanotechnology and, reparative and regeneration medicine and outlines current strategies, future applications and limitations of nanoscale-assisted phototherapy for the management of cancers, microbial infections and other diseases, and to promote tissue repair and regeneration.     

菹草附着物对营养盐浓度的响应及其与菹草衰亡的关系

在菹草衰亡阶段对5个静水水体中菹草叶片表面附着物进行野外调查,并将其与水体营养盐浓度、沉水植物衰亡程度进行相关性分析。附着物共调查Chl.a含量、干重、有机质含量和藻类数量4个指标,沉水植物衰亡程度用单位面积叶片Chl.a含量表示,水体营养盐含量测量了TP、TN和N/P 3个指标。结果显示：附着物生物量与水体营养盐状况存在一定的正相关;各个点的附着物生物量与菹草衰亡状况存在一定相关性但相关性趋势与水体污染程度有关。在污染程度较高的水体中附着物生物量与菹草衰亡程度呈正相关,在污染程度较低的水体中附着物生物量与菹草衰亡程度呈负相关。结论为富营养化湖泊中营养盐含量的增加会导致附着物生物量的增加,但附着物只在污染程度较高的水体中促进植物衰亡。     

湖北省县级公立医院改革试点医院人力资源配置分析

??????? 目的 了解县级公立医院改革试点医院人力资源配置现状,为合理配置县级公立医院人力资源提供依据。方法 采用现场问卷调查的方法对湖北省12家县级公立医院的960名医护人员进行调查,并对结果进行描述性统计和Spearman秩相关分析 。结果 (1)县级公立医院人力资源数量低于全国平均水平; (2)县级公立医院规模扩张,但是人力资源补给不足;(3)医务人员素质偏低。结论 宏观调控县级公立医院人力资源、促进县级医院的人才引进和培养、增强人力资源质量建设,以提高县级公立医院医疗服务水平。