Analysis of inequality in the distribution of general practitioners in China: evidence from 2012 to 2018.

AIM: This paper aims to analyze the inequalities in general practitioner (GP) distribution in China. BACKGROUND: GPs-based primary health care (PHC) has been implemented from 2011 in China, aiming to improve the accessibility and quality of basic medical and healthcare services. GPs in China, as the gatekeeper of people's health, mainly undertake integrated health services at the grass-roots level. METHODS: The number of GPs and inequality in GPs distribution from 2012 to 2018 was analyzed by the Lorenz Curve/Gini coefficient and Theil L index. Data were extracted from China Health Statistical Yearbook 2013-2019. FINDINGS: The demographic Gini coefficient of GPs changed from 2012 (0.234) to 2018 (0.167), showing high equality in China. In contrast, the Thiel L index from 2012 (0.372) to 2018 (0.345) showed less equality. The decomposition of Thiel L index implicated the inequalities within the divisions. The number of GPs in China shows a fast growth trend since the general practice system established, and the GPs distribution becomes more demographically equitable. However, the shortage of GPs and inequality in their distribution remains severe. More incentive and supportive policies need to be made to enhance the quantity, quality, and structure of GPs in China.

Viewpoint: Prevention is missing: is China's health reform reform for health?

Ancient China emphasized disease prevention. As a Chinese saying goes, 'it is more important to prevent the disease than to cure it'. Traditional Chinese medicine posits that diseases can be understood, thus, prevented. In today's China, the state of people's health seems worse than in the past. Thus the Chinese government undertook the creation of a new health system. Alas, we believe the results are not very satisfactory. The government seems to have overlooked rational allocation between resources for treatment and prevention. Public investment has been gradually limited to the domain of treatment. We respond to this trend, highlighting the importance of prevention and call for government and policymakers to adjust health policy and work out a solution suitable for improving the health of China's people.

Anticonvulsant and sedative effects of paederosidic acid isolated from Paederia scandens (Lour.) Merrill. in mice and rats.

This study was designed to evaluate the anticonvulsant and sedative effects of paederosidic acid isolated from Paederia scandens (Lour.) Merrill. in mice and rats. In the present study, anticonvulsant activities of paederosidic acid were evaluated by maximal electroshock and pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in male mice. Then, pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping time and locomotor activity tests in mice were used to evaluate the sedative effects of paederosidic acid. Finally, the mechanism of paederosidic acid was explored by evaluating the contents of Glu and GABA in the brain, and Western blot was used to measure GAD65 expression in the mouse brain. Paederosidic acid (5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, ip) had significant anticonvulsant and sedative effects. Moreover, paederosidic acid increased brain gamma-aminobutyric acid and decreased glutamic acid in the brain, and it up-regulated expressions of GAD 65. In conclusion, our results suggest that paederosidic acid may be a promising future therapeutic agent for treatment of epilepsy.