Decreased Sexual Desire among Middle-Aged and Old Women in China and Factors Influencing It: A Questionnaire-Based Study.

OBJECTIVE: This survey was designed and conducted with an aim to present data on sexual desire and activity in Chinese women. METHODS: Between October 2013 and December 2013, we surveyed 3000 women (aged 40-65 years) at Beijing No. 2 Hospital and the Yuetan Community Health Service Center using a questionnaire. The primary outcomes included determination of sexual desire in the past 4 weeks, reasons for stopping sexual activity, and postmenopausal syndrome. The secondary outcome was determination of factors for low sexual desire. RESULTS: A total of 2400 women (mean age 54.33 ± 6.25 years; mean menopausal age 50.11 ± 3.31 years) returned the questionnaire, with 58% of women reporting lowered sexual desire and 39.3% reporting stoppage of sexual activity. Compared with the postmenopausal group, the incidence of anxiety, depressive, somatic, and vasomotor symptoms was higher in the perimenopausal group. Muscle and joint pain (45.8%) and vaginal pruritus (21.5%) were the most commonly reported menopausal and vulvovaginal symptoms, respectively. The odds of decrease in sexual desire were significantly higher with older age, menopause, presence of gynecological disease, menopausal depression symptoms, menopausal vasomotor symptoms, and vulvovaginal atrophy; only cesarean delivery (odds ratio = 0.887, P=0.018) was associated with lesser reduction in sexual desire compared with the aforementioned factors. CONCLUSION: This survey showed that a high proportion of Chinese middle-aged and old women have lowered sexual desire and activity. Lack of sexual desire is associated with multiple factors and affects the quality of life of women.

Effects of a combined fucoidan and traditional Chinese medicine formula on hyperglycaemia and diabetic nephropathy in a type II diabetes mellitus rat model.

In this study, we innovatively propose a fucoidan mixed with traditional Chinese medicine formula (FCM) and evaluate its effects on hyperglycaemia and diabetic nephropathy in a type II diabetes mellitus Wistar rat model. After treatment with FCM for 8 weeks, the blood glucose, insulin resistance, serum lipid and antioxidant stress levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01, vs. negative group). Via gene expression analysis, we found that three genes (InsR, GCK and GLUT-2) in the glucose metabolism pathway were significantly increased (P < 0.01, vs. negative group) in the FCM-treated groups and play important roles in hypoglycaemic activity. Moreover, FCM treatments alleviated (P < 0.01, vs. negative group) the urine protein, urine creatinine and pathological changes in the kidneys, producing significant improvements in renal function and structure. In summary, FCM exerts protective effects in diabetic rats and could be used in medicinal treatment for diabetes mellitus and its complications.

Determination of the species status of Fallopia multiflora, Fallopia multiflora var. angulata and Fallopia multiflora var. ciliinervis based on morphology, molecular phylogeny, and chemical analysis.

Relationships among Fallopia multiflora (Thunb.) Haraldson., F. multiflora var. angulata (S. Y. Liu) H. J. Yan, Z. J. Fang & Shi Xiao Yu., and F. multiflora var. ciliinervis (Nakai) Yonekura & H. Ohashi. were determined based on macroscopic and microscopic morphology, molecular phylogeny, and chemical analysis. The macroscopic and microscopic morphologies of root tubers or rhizomes, stems, and leaves were compared among the three taxa. The content of 11 chemical components (catechin, polydatin, stilbene glucoside, emodin, emodin-8-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside, rhein, chrysophanol, aloe-emodin, quercetin, physcion, and resveratrol) in the three taxa was determined by HPLC, and the chemical diversity was further evaluated by principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses. Molecular phylogenies were mapped using two chloroplast markers (matK and the psbA-trnH intergenic region) and a nuclear ribosomal marker [internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region]. Analyses of macroscopic and microscopic morphological characteristics revealed that the subterranean organs of F. multiflora and F. multiflora var. angulata are root tubers, whereas those of F. multiflora var. ciliinervis are rhizomes. In the phylogenetic trees, F. multiflora and F. multiflora var. angulata were clustered into a clade based on the combine matK + psbA-trnH sequence, with neighbour-joining, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference bootstrap support values of 99, 85, and 0.99, respectively. In addition, there were obvious differences in the chemical compositions of F. multiflora, F. multiflora var. angulata and F. multiflora var. ciliinervis. The root tubers of F. multiflora contain higher levels of stilbene glucoside and catechin, but lower levels of polydatin and anthraquinone compounds. In contrast to F. multiflora, the rhizomes of F. multiflora var. ciliinervis contain higher levels of polydatin and anthraquinone compounds, but lack stilbene glucoside. The content of all 11 assessed components was lower in F. multiflora var. angulata than in F. multiflora and F. multiflora var. cillinervis. Principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses revealed that F. multiflora and F. multiflora var. angulata individuals were clustered into a single clade, whereas F. multiflora var. ciliinervis individuals were clustered into a single clade separate from that containing F. multiflora and F. multiflora var. angulata individuals. On the basis of the results of our morphological, molecular phylogeny, and chemical analyses, we tentatively conclude that F. multiflora var. ciliinervis is an independent species, whereas F. multiflora var. angulata should be considered as a variety of F. multiflora.

In vitro and in vivo immunomodulatory effects of fucoidan compound agents.

Fucoidan extracted from brown algae displays diverse biological activities. In the present study, fucoidan was mixed with Chinese herb extracts, and the in vitro and in vivo immunomodulatory effects of two fucoidan compound agents were evaluated. The results showed that fucoidan from Kjellmaniella crassifolia (KF) and Undaria pinnatifida (UF) were sulfated polysaccharides, Astragalus polysaccharide (AP) was composed of α-d-glucose, and Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharide (CPP) was a furanose. Furthermore, fucoidan compound agents stimulated mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cell proliferation and enhanced the secretion of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in vitro. In addition, KCA (KF + AP + CPP) and UCA (UF + AP + CPP) could improve the nonspecific immunity and the specific immunity of BALB/c mice. Fucoidan compound agents also increased the secretion of GM-CSF, TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 in vivo. Therefore, we confirmed that fucoidan compound agents have promise for development as supplementary immunopotentiators.

Early intervention with Didang decoction delays macrovascular lesions in diabetic rats through regulating AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.

The study aimed to investigate the intervening role of Didang decoction (DDD) at different times in macrovascular endothelial defense function, focusing on its effects on the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway. The effects of DDD on mitochondrial energy metabolism were also investigated in rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs). Type 2 diabetes were induced in rats by streptozotocin (STZ) combined with high fat diet. Rats were randomly divided into non-intervention group, metformin group, simvastatin group, and early-, middle-, late-stage DDD groups. Normal rats were used as control. All the rats received 12 weeks of intervention or control treatment. Western blots were used to detect the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase α1 (AMPKα1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor 1α (PGC-1α). Changes in the intracellular AMP and ATP levels were detected with ELISA. Real-time-PCR was used to detect the mRNA level of caspase-3, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and Bcl-2. Compared to the diabetic non-intervention group, a significant increase in the expression of AMPKα1 and PGC-1α were observed in the early-stage, middle-stage DDD groups and simvastatin group (P < 0.05). The levels of Bcl-2, eNOS, and ATP were significantly increased (P < 0.05), while the level of AMP and caspase-3 were decreased (P < 0.05) in the early-stage DDD group and simvastatin group. Early intervention with DDD enhances mitochondrial energy metabolism by regulating the AMPK signaling pathway and therefore may play a role in strengthening the defense function of large vascular endothelial cells and postpone the development of macrovascular diseases in diabetes.

Hypolipidemic activity of okra is mediated through inhibition of lipogenesis and upregulation of cholesterol degradation.

Little is known about the hypolipidemic activity of okra; therefore, we investigated the hypolipidemic activity of okra and its interaction with gene expression of several key components involved in lipid homeostasis. Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups and fed with hyperlipidemic diet or two hyperlipidemic diets supplemented with 1% or 2% okra powder for eight weeks. Results demonstrated that okra dose-dependently decreased serum and hepatic total cholesterol and triglyceride, and enhanced fecal excretion of bile acids. Gene expression analysis revealed that okra upregulated cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) expression, downregulated expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), with no effect on sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1A (CPT1A). It was suggested that hypolipidemic activity of okra was mediated most likely by upregulation of cholesterol degradation through CYP7A1 and by inhibition of lipogenesis through SREBP1c and FAS. Okra raw and fractionated polysaccharide showed strong bile acid binding capacity in vitro, which may contribute to the hypolipidemic activity observed. In conclusion, okra has potential application in the management of hyperlipidemia and its associated metabolic disorders.

Novel antioxidative peptides from the protein hydrolysate of oysters (Crassostrea talienwhanensis).

The antioxidative activity of hydrolysate peptides from oysters (Crassostrea talienwhanensis) was investigated. After hydrolysis with subtilisin, the yields of the peptides that were soluble in trichloroacetic acid (TCA-soluble) and the antioxidant activities of the resulting hydrolysate were determined using an orthogonal design and a hydroxyl radical scavenging reaction. The hydrolysate was fractionated using Sephadex G-15 gel filtration chromatography, and the two resulting bioactive peptides were subsequently purified by RP-HPLC with a Kromasil C18 (ODS) column. The amino acid sequences were analyzed by nano-ESI-MS/MS. The critical reaction temperature, pH, hydrolysis time and enzyme-to-substrate (E/S) ratio were determined for the optimum hydrolysis with subtilisin, and the E/S ratio was found to be the most critical reaction condition. The amino acid sequences of the peptides (518 and 440 Da) were proline-valine-methionine-glycine-aspartic acid (PVMGA) and glutamine-histidine-glycine-valine (QHGV), respectively. These two novel peptides exhibited high antioxidative actions based on their hydroxyl and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities.

[Test-retest reliability of Mandarin acceptable noise level].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate test-retest reliability of Mandarin acceptable noise level(M-ANL) test materials. METHOD: M-ANL was evaluated during three test sessions approximately one week apart, by testing 30 Mandarin-speaking people aged from 21 to 28 with normal aural/oral communication abilities. The participants completed the preference for background noise questionnaire before the first session. Analysis of the test-retest results were administered by SPSS 17.0 (Statistically Package for the Social Sciences Software Version 17.0). RESULT: ANLs in the three sessions were (8.1 +/- 2.9), (7.4 +/- 2.2), (7.6 +/- 2.5)dB S/N, respectively. The correlation coefficients were 0.722, 0.746 and 0.849 between two of the three sessions. The correlation coefficients of the ANL and 7 questions of the questionnaire were below 0.3. CONCLUSION: M-ANL test materials are found to have good test-retest reliability. Listeners' preference for background noise is not related to their acceptance of background noise. Listeners cannot accurately assess their ability to accept background noise.