Analysis of behaviour patterns and thermal responses to a hot–arid climate in rural China

Climate can greatly affect building design, life style and thermal perception for all groups of people; however, this phenomenon has not yet been rigorously evaluated in China's hot–arid climate. The aim of this paper is to present the results of a thermal comfort survey by evaluating the influence of the hot–arid climate upon the behavioural patterns and thermal comfort responses of 160 residents in 65 traditional vernacular houses in Turfan, China, in 2011. In this survey, there were 206 sets of effective data, and the features of the traditional residential buildings and the human behaviour patterns in Turfan were described and analysed. The results showed that the diversified courtyards and shade spaces were the most obvious features of traditional houses in Turfan. People here typically spend most of their time in one of two spaces for eating, resting, and entertaining. It was found that the preferred temperature was 26.5 °C. The preferred air velocity occurred at 0.62 m/s. A suitable air velocity range of 0.15–1.24 m/s was suggested in Turfan. Moreover, the neutral temperature of the local people was 30.1 °C (t_g or t_o). The upper limits of the 80% acceptable zone by using the direct and indirect acceptability method were 32.7 and 33.8 °C, respectively. The neutral temperature and upper limit of the acceptable zone in Turfan were higher than those of the adaptive standards. Attention should be paid to the role of thermal comfort in influencing building design by using simple passive cooling strategies. The above results are believed to be potentially valuable for the design and evaluation of residential buildings located in hot–arid climate.     

Demographic and traditional knowledge perspectives on the current status of Canadian polar bear subpopulations

Subpopulation growth rates and the probability of decline at current harvest levels were determined for 13 subpopulations of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) that are within or shared with Canada based on mark–recapture estimates of population numbers and vital rates, and harvest statistics using population viability analyses (PVA). Aboriginal traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) on subpopulation trend agreed with the seven stable/increasing results and one of the declining results, but disagreed with PVA status of five other declining subpopulations. The decline in the Baffin Bay subpopulation appeared to be due to over‐reporting of harvested numbers from outside Canada. The remaining four disputed subpopulations (Southern Beaufort Sea, Northern Beaufort Sea, Southern Hudson Bay, and Western Hudson Bay) were all incompletely mark–recapture (M‐R) sampled, which may have biased their survival and subpopulation estimates. Three of the four incompletely sampled subpopulations were PVA identified as nonviable (i.e., declining even with zero harvest mortality). TEK disagreement was nonrandom with respect to M‐R sampling protocols. Cluster analysis also grouped subpopulations with ambiguous demographic and harvest rate estimates separately from those with apparently reliable demographic estimates based on PVA probability of decline and unharvested subpopulation growth rate criteria. We suggest that the correspondence between TEK and scientific results can be used to improve the reliability of information on natural systems and thus improve resource management. Considering both TEK and scientific information, we suggest that the current status of Canadian polar bear subpopulations in 2013 was 12 stable/increasing and one declining (Kane Basin). We do not find support for the perspective that polar bears within or shared with Canada are currently in any sort of climate crisis. We suggest that monitoring the impacts of climate change (including sea ice decline) on polar bear subpopulations should be continued and enhanced and that adaptive management practices are warranted.     

甲磺酸多沙唑嗪控释片联合中药坐浴治疗老年非细菌性前列腺炎的临床疗效

目的:探讨甲磺酸多沙唑嗪控释片联合中药坐浴治疗老年非细菌性前列腺炎的临床疗效。方法:选取我院泌尿男科收治的老年非细菌性前列腺炎患者60例,随机分配为实验组和对照组,每组各30例,对照组患者使用甲磺酸多沙唑嗪控释片进行治疗,实验组患者在对照组的治疗基础上加用中药坐浴进行治疗,两组患者均治疗1个月。治疗结束后对患者前列腺液中的WBC水平进行检测,并应用美国国家卫生研究院慢性前列腺炎症状指数(NIH-CPSI)表对患者的前列腺功能进行评分,同时比较治疗结束后两组患者临床总有效率。结果:与治疗前相比,两组患者WBC计数及NIH-CPSI评分均有所降低(P0.05);与对照组相比,实验组患者治疗后WBC计数及NIH-CPSI评分较低(P0.05);临床总有效率较高(P0.05)。结论:甲磺酸多沙唑嗪控释片联合中药坐浴能够提高老年非细菌性前列腺炎患者的前列腺功能,降低炎症反应,临床疗效更好。     

Evaluation of the anti-fatigue effects of a traditional herbal drug,Gongjin-dan,under insufficient sleep conditions: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundMany herbal medicines are traditionally used as anti-fatigue agents in east Asian countries; however, there is a dearth of clinical evidence supporting the anti-fatigue effects of such medicines and their mechanisms. This study is a feasibility trial to assess the clinical efficacy of Gongjin-dan (GJD) and verify its mechanisms by exploring fatigue outcomes, including endocrine and immunological biomarkers in humans.Methods/DesignTo investigate the anti-fatigue effects of GJD and the mechanism underlying these effects, a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial was designed. Participants (24 healthy male volunteers) will be hospitalised for 4 days (3 nights), during which acute fatigue and stress conditions will be induced by sleep deprivation, and GJD or a placebo will be administered (twice daily). The primary outcome will be changes in serum cortisol levels, measured in the morning, as an objective biomarker of sleep deprivation-induced fatigue and stress. The secondary outcomes will include: the Fatigue Severity Scale; the Brief Fatigue Inventory, and the Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire scores; levels of salivary cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, oxidative stress-related biomarkers, homocysteine, and immunological factors; and heart rate variability. After a washout period of more than 4 weeks, a second treatment phase will commence in which participants who were previously administered the placebo will receive the drug and vice versa, following the same treatment regime as in the first phase.DiscussionThis study protocol provides a unique opportunity to enhance our understanding of fatigue and the effects of GJD on fatigue in terms of endocrine and immunological mechanisms by validating the study design and determining feasibility. Findings from this trial will help researchers to design a pilot or definitive clinical trial of traditional herbal medicine for chronic fatigue.

Trial registration

Korean National Clinical Trial Registry CRIS; KCT0001681, registered on 29 October 2015.     

神经外科颅脑手术患者发生术后颅内感染的危险因素及应用中医外科"托法"效果分析

摘要 目的：探讨神经外科颅脑手术患者术后发生颅内感染的危险因素，并研究中医外科"托法"辅助治疗颅内感染的临床疗效。方法：回顾性分析2017年1月到2022年12月在我院神经外科进行颅脑手术的260例患者临床资料，分析影响患者发生术后颅内感染的影响因素。发生术后发生颅内感染的患者在常规抗感染治疗的基础上加用中医"托法"治疗，分析其临床治疗疗效、抗感染治疗后脑脊液白细胞计数、蛋白含量和中性粒细胞，以及血清白介素-8（IL-8），超敏c反应蛋白（hs-CRP）和降钙素（PCT）。结果：260例神经外科颅脑手术患者，术后出现颅内感染的患者有21例，术后颅内感染发生率为8.08%。多因素Logistic回归分析显示：手术时间、脑脊液分流术、脑室外引流以及脑脊液漏是影响神经外科颅脑手术患者术后是否发生颅内感染的独立影响因素。经中医外科"托法"辅助抗感染治疗后，21例术后颅内感染患者脑脊液白细胞计数、蛋白含量和中性粒细胞均较治疗前显著降低（P<0.05），并且血清IL-8、hs-CRP和 PCT均较治疗前降低（P<0.05）。21例术后颅内感染患者治疗总有效率、抗感染治疗时间和总费用分别为90.48%、（11.43±1.57）天和（7571.68±2541.29）元。结论：手术时间、脑脊液分流术、脑室外引流以及脑脊液漏是影响神经外科颅脑手术患者术后是否发生颅内感染的独立影响因素，中医外科"托法"可用于术后颅内感染患者抗感染治疗。     

复方苦参注射液联合伊班膦酸钠治疗非小细胞肺癌骨转移癌疼痛的临床观察

目的：探讨复方苦参注射液联合伊班膦酸钠治疗非小细胞肺癌骨转移癌疼痛的临床观察。方法：选取宜昌市中心人民医院2010年3月至2012年3月收治的非小细胞肺癌骨转移患者98例,根据其治疗方式的不同,分为对照组和治疗组。对照组患者采用伊班膦酸钠进行治疗,治疗组患者采用复方苦参注射液联合伊班膦酸钠进行治疗,比较2组患者的近期疗效、疼痛缓解、KPS评分改善情况。结果：患者近期疗效比较结果显示,治疗组患者部分缓解的例数（百分比）及总有效率要明显优于对照组,且差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。治疗组Karnofsky评分改善的例数（百分比）要明显多余对照组,且差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。疼痛缓解情况比较分析显示,治疗组患者完全缓解例（百分比）及总的缓解率要明显优于对照组,且差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。2组患者不良反应发生情况差异无统计学意义（P＞0．05）。结论：复方苦参注射液联合伊班膦酸钠对非小细胞肺癌骨转移癌疼痛具有明显的作用,能够有效的减轻患者的疼痛,值得在临床上推广应用。     

西双版纳傣族传统饮料植物利用的研究

利用民族植物学与人类学相结合的方法,对西双版纳州曼伞、曼安两个傣族村寨利用传统饮料植物的情况进行了调查。结果显示,两个村寨利用的传统饮料植物有114种,隶属43科、93属,其中65．8％的种具有药用价值。两村寨利用传统饮料植物的种类及物种数有较大不同,而村民传统饮料植物知识在性别间无明显差异。ANOVA分析表明,传统饮料植物平均被提及的物种数在村寨、性别间无明显差异,但在不同年龄组间有显著差异,即随着年龄减小,访谈中人均提及的物种数呈下降趋势,这种趋势在交通较为便利的曼安寨更为明显,表明环境变化和外来文化等对植物传统利用知识的传承有很大影响。     

Traditional Chinese medicine Bak Foong Pills alters uterine quiescence – Possible role in alleviation of dysmenorrhoeal symptoms

Since contractility of the uterus appears to be the major source of pain during dysmenorrhoea, alleviation of the contractions is believed to be a possible treatment strategy. Bak Foong Pills, a traditional Chinese formulation for use in gynaecological disorders, has long been thought as effective in the treatment of dysmenorrhoeal symptoms. The present study thus aims to investigate whether ethanol extract of Bak Foong Pills (BFP-Ex) or its constituent herbs may have direct effects on alleviating dysmenorrhoeal symptoms by altering uterine tone. This was investigated using isolated uterine preparations and intracellular messenger analysis of adenylate cyclase, via [³H]-adenine assay, and calcium, with fluorometry imaging, in myometrial cultures. BFP-Ex can stimulate uterine relaxation following oxytocin-induced contractions ex-vivo. Attempted inhibition of BFP-Ex's relaxatory response with a nitric oxide inhibitor and adenylate cyclase inhibitor, however, had no significant effect, suggesting that most of BFP-Ex's relaxatory response was not due to increases in NO or cAMP. Further studies on tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), a major active ingredient of BFP-Ex, indicated that TMP could modulate intracellular calcium levels in favour of uteri relaxation. The ability of Bak Foong Pills to alleviate menstrual pain may be due to direct regulation of uterine tone.     

中医学跨越“卡夫丁峡谷”的可能性

西医学是从自然哲学模式,经近代生物医学模式而发展到现代生物心理社会医学模式的,而中医学仍处于古代自然哲学医学模式的历史阶段,与现代生物-心理-社会医学模式同形而异质。在现代,中医学要么通过生物医学的＂卡夫丁峡谷＂而追随在西方医学之后,要么消解于西方现代医学之中,要么跨越生物医学的＂卡夫丁峡谷＂而直接跃迁至现代医学。而实现跨越的两个基本条件是实现中医学基础理论的创造性转化与中医文化的大众化。     

Improved liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of eptifibatide in human plasma

A rapid, selective and highly sensitive high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method (LC–MS/MS) was developed and validated for the determination and pharmacokinetic investigation of eptifibatide in human plasma. Eptifibatide and the internal standard (IS), EPM-05, were extracted from plasma samples using solid phase extraction. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C₁₈ column at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. Detection of eptifibatide and the IS was achieved by tandem mass spectrometry with an electrospray ionization (ESI) interface in positive ion mode. Traditional multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) using the transition of m/z 832.6 → m/z 646.4 and m/z 931.6 → m/z 159.4 was performed to quantify eptifibatide and the IS, respectively. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 1–1000 ng/mL with the lower limit of quantitation validated at 1 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions were within 13.3%, while the accuracy was within ±7.6% of nominal values. The validated LC–MS/MS method was successfully applied for the evaluation of pharmacokinetic parameters of eptifibatide after intravenous (i.v.) administration of a 45 μg/kg bolus of eptifibatide to 8 healthy volunteers.