Summary of evidence on comprehensive healthcare for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to provide an evidence-based summary of the most effective strategies for comprehensive healthcare of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in cancer patients. METHOD: Following the "6S" model, relevant evidence on CIPN management was collected from reputable evidence-based resource websites and databases nationally and internationally. The included articles were evaluated for methodological quality, and evidence was extracted using the Australian JBI Evidence-based Health Care Center's literature evaluation standard (2016 edition). RESULTS: A total of 60 articles were included in this study, comprising 2 guidelines, 5 expert consensus statements, and 53 systematic reviews. The findings of these articles were summarized across 7 dimensions, including risk factor screening, assessment, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, management, and health education, resulting in the identification of 42 relevant pieces of evidence. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a comprehensive synthesis of evidence-based recommendations for managing CIPN in cancer patients, offering guidance for healthcare professionals engaged in clinical practice. However, when implementing these recommendations, it is crucial to consider the individual patient's clinical circumstances, preferences, and expert judgment, ensuring feasibility and applicability in real-world clinical settings.

Recent advances in early pregnancy loss diagnosis in dairy cows: New approaches.

Early pregnancy loss is a primary cause of low reproductive rates in dairy cows, posing severe economic losses to dairy farming. The accurate diagnosis of dairy cows with early pregnancy loss allows for oestrus synchronization, shortening day open, and increasing the overall conception rate of the herd. Several techniques are available for detecting early pregnancy loss in dairy cows, including rectal ultrasound, circulating blood progesterone, and pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs). Yet, there is a need to improve on existing techniques and develop novel strategies to identify cows with early pregnancy loss accurately. This manuscript reviews the applications of rectal ultrasound, circulating blood progesterone concentration, and PAGs in the diagnosis of pregnancy loss in dairy cows. The manuscript also discusses the recent progress of new technologies, including colour Doppler ultrasound (CDUS), interferon tau-induced genes (ISGs), and exosomal miRNA in diagnosing pregnancy loss in dairy cows. This study will provide an option for producers to re-breed cows with pregnancy loss, thereby reducing the calving interval and economic costs. Meanwhile, this manuscript might also act as a reference for exploring more economical and precise diagnostic technologies for early pregnancy loss in dairy cows.

Case report: Metastatic choriocarcinoma in the second trimester of a viable pregnancy with successful delivery and outcome after chemotherapy.

Metastatic choriocarcinoma during viable pregnancy is rare worldwide, and neonate survival following pregnancy termination in the second trimester is uncommon. Here, we report the successful delivery of a pregnancy by a patient with metastatic choriocarcinoma, who received three courses of etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine (EMA-CO) chemotherapy in the second trimester. After multidisciplinary discussions, she was administered paclitaxel and carboplatin (TC) chemotherapy. Regular contractions occurred during her first paclitaxel infusion, and a healthy infant was delivered by cesarean section at 26+4 gestational weeks. Choriocarcinoma was not detected in the placenta. Following delivery of the pregnancy, the patient underwent total treatment comprising one cycle of TC, seven cycles of EMA-CO, and five courses of etoposide, cisplatin, methotrexate, and dactinomycin chemotherapy; her serum level of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin gradually fell after chemotherapy. Uterine and pulmonary metastases shrank, and no distant metastasis or recurrence were found until the eighth course of maintenance treatment with immunotherapy. The patient received periodic chemotherapy for recurrence at the time of publishing this case report. The child was disease-free 15+ months after delivery. Despite serious metastases and complications, metastatic choriocarcinoma diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy can be successfully treated with minimal delay by multidisciplinary medical and nursing management.

Construction and evaluation of a cloud follow-up platform for gynecological patients receiving chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Patient follow-up is an essential component of hospital management. In the current information era, the patient follow-up scheme is expected to be replaced by Internet technology. This study constructed a cloud follow-up platform for gynecological chemotherapy patients and assessed its cost-effectiveness and patients' feedback. METHODS: A total of 2,538 patients were followed up using a cloud follow-up system between January and October 2021. Prior to this, 690 patients were followed manually via telephone calls. Patients' characteristics, follow-up rate, satisfaction, and session duration were compared between the cloud follow-up and manual follow-up groups. In addition, the read rate of health education materials in the cloud follow-up group was analyzed. RESULTS: General information, including age, education attainment, cancer stage, and disease category, and follow-up rate (cloud: 6,957/7,614, 91.4%; manual: 1,869/2,070, 90.3%; P = 0.13) did not significantly differ between the two groups. The follow-up satisfaction of the cloud follow-up patients was significantly better than that of the manual follow-up group (cloud: 7,192/7,614, 94.5%; manual: 1,532/2,070, 74.0%; P<0.001). The time spent on the follow-up was approximately 1.2 h for 100 patients in the cloud follow-up group and 10.5 h in the manual follow-up group. Multivariate analysis indicated that the cloud follow-up group had significantly greater follow-up satisfaction (odds ratio: 2.239, 95% CI: 1.237 ~ 5.219). Additionally, the average follow-up duration of the cloud follow-up group decreased by 9.287 h (coefficient: -9.287, 95% CI: -1.439~-0.165). The read rate of health education materials was 72.9% in the cloud follow-up group. CONCLUSIONS: The follow-up effect of the cloud follow-up group was not inferior to that of the manual follow-up group. The cloud follow-up was more effective for prevention and control requirements in the post-epidemic era. Cloud follow-up can save medical resources, improve cost-effectiveness, provide sufficient health education resources for patients, and improve their satisfaction.

Molecular Characterization of Tick-borne Pathogens in Bactrian Camels and Ticks from Gansu Province, China.

PURPOSE: Ticks are dangerous ectoparasites for humans and other animals, and tick-borne pathogens of Bactrian camels have been epidemiologically surveyed in Gansu Province, China. We aimed to determine the current distribution of tick-borne pathogens among Bactrian camels in Gansu during August 2013 using molecular tools. METHODS: All ticks underwent morphological identification. We extracted DNA from the blood samples and ticks, screened them for Theileria, Babesia, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia using standard or nested PCR with specific primers. RESULTS: All ticks collected from the skin were identified as Hyalomma asiaticum. The blood and tick samples harbored similar pathogens, including the Theileria species, T. annulata, T. luwenshuni, T. uilenbergi, and T. capreoli, the Anaplasma species A. bovis and uncultured Anaplasma, the Ehrlichia species E. canis and uncultured Ehrlichia, and a new haplotype of Babesia species. CONCLUSION: Our findings of anaplasmataceae and piroplasmida in Bactrian camels in Gansu provide a theoretical basis for deeper investigation into the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens in these camels.

Professional Nursing Practice Environment and Work Engagement: The Mediating Roles of Self-Efficacy and Achievement Motivation.

BACKGROUND: The shortage of nurses is a global problem. Increasing the level of work engagement is known to effectively reduce turnover rate among nursing staff. Strategies to improve work engagement based on the job demands-resources model may effectively improve nurses' job satisfaction and reduce staff turnover. PURPOSE: A job demands-resources model was used in this study to test the hypothesis that work engagement is affected by both external resources (professional nursing practice environment) and internal resources (self-efficacy and achievement motivation). In addition, the mediating role of self-efficacy and achievement motivation in the relationship between professional nursing practice environment and work engagement was also verified. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey employing a convenience sampling design was implemented. Five hundred fifteen registered nurses were recruited from four tertiary hospitals in Chengdu, China, from January to June 2020. The Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Achievement Motive Scale, and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale were used to measure the four variables. RESULTS: The results of the structural equation model showed that the degree of fit for each index model was good, indicating that all of the three variables, including professional nursing practice environment, self-efficacy, and achievement motivation, directly affected work engagement. In addition, the variable professional nursing practice environment was found to indirectly influence work engagement through the partial mediation of self-efficacy and achievement motivation. CONCLUSIONS: The results may be used to guide health policymakers and nurse managers attempting to enhance the work engagement of nurses by providing a supportive working environment, improving the welfare mechanism, formulating a talent training plan, and fostering appropriate empowerment to improve the working environment, self-efficacy, and motivation in nurses.

Exosomes: The role in mammalian reproductive regulation and pregnancy-related diseases.

Exosomes are a kind of extracellular vesicles that are produced and secreted by different mammalian cells. They serve as cargo proteins and can transfer different kinds of biomolecules, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, which consequently act on target cells to exert different biological effects. Recent years have witnessed a significant increase in the number of studies on exosomes due to the potential effects of exosomes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and immune disorders. Previous studies have demonstrated that exosomal contents, especially miRNAs, are implicated in numerous physiological processes such as reproduction, and are crucial regulators of mammalian reproduction and pregnancy-related diseases. Here, we describe the origin, composition, and intercellular communication of exosomes, and discuss their functions in follicular development, early embryonic development, embryonic implantation, male reproduction and development of pregnancy-related diseases in humans and animals. We believe this study will provide a foundation for revealing the mechanism of exosomes in regulating mammalian reproduction, and providing new approaches and ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy-related diseases.

Effects of Banxia Shumi Decoction on 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor, 5-HT, and 5-HIAA of chronic insomnia rats with internal obstruction of phlegm-dampness / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To observe the effects of Banxia Shumi Decoction on 5-HT 1AR, 5-HT 2AR, 5-HT, and 5-HIAA of chronic insomnia (CI) rats with internal obstruction of phlegm-damp (IOPD) type, to investigate the mechanisms of Banxia Shumi Decoction on resolving and draining dampness, guiding yang into yin and tranquilizing mind. Methods:A total of 48 Wistar rats were divided into control group, model group, Banxia Shumi Decoction low-dosage group, medium-dosage group, high-dosage group, and diazepam group according to random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. Except the control group, the CI with IOPD rats model were prepared by the method of "high-fat diet + single-platform water environment" in other groups. The rats in the Banxia Shumi Decoction low-, medium-, high-dosage group were treated with Banxia Shumi Decoction by gavage at the dose of 4.69, 9.38 and 18.75 g/kg respectively, the rats in the diazepam group were given 0.52 mg/kg diazepam aqueous solution by gavage, and the rats in the control group and model group were given the equal volume normal saline, once a day for consecutive 2 weeks. The mRNA expressions of 5-HT 1AR, 5-HT 2AR in rat brain stem were detected by qPCR, the protein expressions of 5-HT 1AR, 5-HT 2AR in rat brain raphe nucleus were detected by Western blot, and the contents of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in rat brain stem were determined by HPLC-MS. Results:Compared with model group, the expression of 5-HT 1AR mRNA significantly increased in the Banxia Shumi Decoction low-, medium-, high-dosage group, and diazepam group ( P<0.01); the expression of 5-HT 2AR mRNA significantly decreased in the Banxia Shumi Decoction high-dosage group and diazepam group ( P<0.05), and the expression of 5-HT 1AR and 5-HT 2AR significantly increased in the Banxia Shumi Decoction high-dosage group and diazepam group ( P<0.05 or P<0.01); 5-HT content significantly increased in the Banxia Shumi Decoction medium-, high-dosage group and diazepam group ( P<0.05 or P<0.01); 5-HIAA content significantly increased in the Banxia Shumi Decoction low-, medium-, high-dosage group, and diazepam group ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion:Banxia Shumi Decoction may intervene CI with IOPD type and perform the actions of resolving and draining dampness, guiding yang into yin and tranquilizing mind by regulating the expressions of 5-HT 1AR, 5-HT 2AR, 5-HT and 5-HIAA.

Epidemiological characteristics and serum antibody detection of a COVID-19 aggregated outbreak in vaccinated population / 中华预防医学杂志

An epidemiological investigation was conducted on a cluster epidemic of COVID-19 in the vaccinated population in Beijing in 2022, and serum samples were collected from 21 infected cases and 61 close contacts (including 20 cases with positive nucleic acid in the isolation observation period). The results of antibody detection showed that the IgM antibody of two infected persons was positive, and the IgG antibody positive rates of patients who were converted, not converted to positive and infected persons were 36.84% (7/19), 63.41% (26/41) and 71.43% (15/21), respectively. About 98.78% of patients had been vaccinated with the SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine. The positive rate of IgG antibody in patients immunized with three doses of vaccine was 86.00% (43/50), which was higher than that in patients with one or two doses [16.12% (5/31)]. The antibody level of M (Q1, Q3) in patients immunized with three doses was 4.255 (2.303, 7.0375), which was higher than that in patients with one or two doses [0.500 (0.500, 0.500)] (all P values<0.001). The antibody level of patients who were vaccinated less than three months [7.335 (1.909, 7.858)] was higher than that of patients vaccinated more than three months after the last vaccination [2.125 (0.500, 4.418)] (P=0.007). The positive rate and level of IgG antibody in patients who were converted to positive after three doses were 77.78% (7/9) and 4.207 (2.216, 7.099), respectively, which were higher than those in patients who were converted after one or two doses [0 and 0.500 (0.500, 0.500)] (all P values<0.05).

Metabolomic profiling of bovine leucocytes transformed by Theileria annulata under BW720c treatment.

BACKGROUND: When Theileria annulata infects host cells, it undertakes unlimited proliferation as tumor cells. Although the transformed cells will recover their limited reproductive characteristics and enter the apoptosis process after treatment with buparvaquone (BW720c), the metabolites and metabolic pathways involved are not clear. METHODS: The transformed cells of T. annulata were used as experimental materials, and the buparvaquone treatment group and DMSO control group were used. Qualitative and quantitative analysis was undertaken of 36 cell samples based on the LC-QTOF platform in positive and negative ion modes. The metabolites of the cell samples after 72 h of drug treatment were analyzed, as were the different metabolites and metabolic pathways involved in the BW720c treatment. Finally, the differential metabolites and metabolic pathways in the transformed cells were found. RESULTS: A total of 1425 metabolites were detected in the negative ion mode and 1298 metabolites were detected in the positive ion mode. After drug treatment for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h, there were 56, 162, and 243 differential metabolites in negative ion mode, and 35, 121, and 177 differential metabolites in positive ion mode, respectively. These differential metabolites are mainly concentrated on various essential amino acids. CONCLUSION: BW720c treatment induces metabolic disturbances in T. annulata-infected cells by regulating the metabolism of leucine, arginine, and L-carnitine, and induces host cell apoptosis.

Longitudinal Change in Symptom Clusters in Patients With Ovarian Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The symptoms of patients with ovarian cancer at a specific time point during the treatment process have been investigated in previous studies. However, only a few longitudinal studies have been conducted in China to determine the symptom cluster of patients with ovarian cancer before surgery, after surgery, and during the initial stage of chemotherapy. PURPOSE: This study was carried out to identify the symptom clusters in patients with ovarian cancer at different stages of treatment. METHODS: A longitudinal survey was designed, and 430 patients with ovarian cancer who had undergone surgical operation combined with chemotherapy were recruited as participants. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify the components of symptom cluster at three different time points: 3 days before surgery (T1), 2 days after surgery (T2), and the first day after the completion of chemotherapy cycle 1 (T3). RESULTS: The symptom clusters varied across the three time points. Notably, the pain-related, emotional, cognitive, and disease-related symptom clusters occurred at T1 and persisted through T2 and T3; the treatment-related symptom cluster occurred at T2 and persisted through T3; and the numbness symptom and gastrointestinal symptom clusters were observed at T3. CONCLUSIONS: Priority symptom management interventions should be provided according to the most severe symptom clusters such as the emotional symptom cluster at T1, the treatment-related symptom cluster at T2, and the gastrointestinal symptom cluster at T3.

Effect of Astragali Radix Membranaceus in Promoting Blood Circulation and Its Modern Pharmacology Research / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Astragali Radix membranaceus is first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing, which has the effect in replenishing Qi and rising Yang, strengthening the body surface resistance, inducing diuresis to alleviate edema, and supporting for detoxication and tissue generation. As an essential medicine for invigorating Qi and invigorating the spleen, it is often used in diseases, such as Qi deficiency and fatigue, spleen deficiency diarrhea and so on, and has been well known by doctors. In recent years, scholars have a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms in replenishing Qi, invigorating spleen and promoting water. However, Tao Hongjing first recorded that Astragali Radix membranaceus can " clear the evil blood between the five organs" . In Bencaojing Jizhu, this herbal medicine has the effect in promoting blood circulation at the same time. At present, traditional Chinese medicine often explains the mechanism of this herbal medicine in promoting blood circulation based on the theory of " replenishing Qi and activating blood circulation" and " blood circulation due to Qi circulation" , which however is not equivalent to the fact that this herbal medicine has no blood circulation effect. By summarizing the records of Astragali Radix membranaceus in the herbal literatures of the previous dynasties, it was found that its promoting blood circulation effect was widely used. In summary of the applications of traditional prescriptions and modern prescriptions in promoting blood circulation, Astragali Radix membranaceus can remove obstruction and activate blood circulation, activate blood and promote diuresis, activate blood circulation and strengthen the body resistance, which can best reflect the effect in activating blood circulation of this medicine. Modern pharmacology shows that Astragali Radix membranaceus has a good regulatory effect on the molecular mechanism of blood stasis pathological indexes by activating blood circulation. Due to no in-depth research, there is still room for study. Therefore, this paper thoroughly explores the mechanism of action of Astragali Radix membranaceus in promoting blood circulation by summarizing the effects of Astragali Radix membranaceus in literatures of previous dynasties and modern pharmacological studies, in order to expand the clinical application of Astragali Radix membranaceus and provide theoretical guidance for clinical treatment.

Multimodal Rehabilitation Program Promotes Motor Function Recovery of Rats After Ischemic Stroke by Upregulating Expressions of GAP-43, SYN, HSP70, and C-MYC.

BACKGROUND: Despite the intense efforts devoted to preventing and treating cerebral ischemia, some individuals will continue to have completed infarctions. Failure of prevention or intervention does not, however, preclude therapeutic approaches to enhance recovery. Our study aims to explore the effect of multimodal rehabilitation program on the motor function recovery of rats with ischemic stroke. METHODS: Rat models of ischemic stroke were established using clean-grade adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Motor function of rats was scored by the Bederson neurological function, balance beam test, and screen test. Nissl staining was conducted for morphological and structural changes of nerve cells in the arteriae cerebri anterior zone. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expressions of growth-associated protein (GAP-43), synaptophysin (SYN) and Caspase-3, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining was carried out in the corpus striatum 21 days after operation; reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were conducted for testing messager RNA (mRNA) and protein expressions of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and MYC proto-oncogene (c-Myc). RESULTS: Rats receiving multimodal rehabilitation program had lower Bederson neurological function, balance beam, and screen test scores on the 7th, 14th and 21st days after operation; more number of neurons surviving in the arteriae cerebri anterior zone at each time point after operation, higher GAP-43 expression on the 7th and 14th days after operation, and higher SYN expression on the 14th and 21st days after operation, on the 7th, 14th and 21st days after operation, higher mRNA and protein expressions of HSP70 and C-MYC, lower Caspase-3 positive expression and TUNEL positive stained cells. CONCLUSIONS: Multimodal rehabilitation program could promote motor function recovery of rats after ischemic stroke by upregulating GAP-43 and SYN expressions at arteriae cerebri anterior zone and upregulating HSP70 and C-MYC expressions in the brain tissues.

Relationships among structural empowerment, innovative behaviour, self-efficacy, and career success in nursing field in mainland China.

AIM: The purpose of the study is to explore the relationships among structural empowerment, innovative behaviour, self-efficacy, and career success by nurses in mainland China. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was designed, and participants were recruited from 6 tertiary hospitals in Tianjin, China. The study used an anonymous questionnaire, filled voluntarily by 460 nurses in spring 2017. Structural equation modelling analyses were conducted. RESULTS: The results reveal that innovative behaviour is positively associated with career success and self-efficacy, which, in turn, mediates the relationship between structural empowerment and career success. Structural empowerment is positively associated with innovative behaviour and career success. Self-efficacy is positively associated with career success and mediates the relationship between innovative behaviour and career success. CONCLUSION: Higher perceived structural empowerment, innovative behaviour, and self-efficacy can increase career success of Chinese nurses.

Innovative behaviour and career success: Mediating roles of self-efficacy and colleague solidarity of nurses.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study is to explore the relationships amongst innovative behaviour, self-efficacy, colleague solidarity of nurses and career success of nurses in Mainland China. METHOD: This study used the cross-sectional investigation method and nurses were recruited from eight tertiary hospitals and four secondary hospitals in Tianjin, China. A convenience sample of 848 nurses was included in this survey. Structural equation model analysis was performed as well. RESULTS: Results revealed that the nurses' career success score was at the medium degree, whilst innovative behaviour and self-efficacy were in the medium-high level and had high level of colleague solidarity. The four variables include innovative behaviour, self-efficacy, colleague solidarity of nurses and career success; each dimension showed positive correlation (r = 0.145 to 0.923, P < 0.05). Independent sample T-test showed no significant differences between the two types of hospitals in the main variables (P > 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that innovative behaviour, self-efficacy and academic solidarity entered the career success regression equation (ß = 0.091 to 0.560, P < 0.05), thereby possibly explaining 52.0% of the total variation. Hierarchical regression analysis and path analysis model showed that self-efficacy and colleague solidarity of nurses played mediating roles between innovative behaviour and career success (ß = 0.132 to 0.221, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The level of career success of nurses remains to be improved. Additionally, high innovative behaviour, self-efficacy and colleague solidarity of nurses can improve the career success of Chinese nurses.

Tag single nucleotide polymorphism rs1532624 located in cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene is associated with atherosclerosis cerebral ischemia

Objective:To investigate the relationship between polymorphisms of rs1532624 and rs289741 loci in cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) genes and atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (ACI).Methods:The CETP gene rs1532624 and rs289741 in 95 patients with ACI and 177 healthy subjects were genotyped by MassARRAY mass spectrometry. Each locus genotype and allele frequency distributions were compared.Results:The difference of allele frequency distribution between the rs1532624 (χConclusion:ACI have a positive correlation with rs1532624 polymorphism, and AA genotype may be susceptible factors of ACI.

Review of Extraction, Content Determination and Physiological Activity of Alkaloids from Zanthoxyli Pericarpium / 中国中医药信息杂志

The property of Zanthoxyli Pericarpium is warm and the taste is spicy, which can be used as food as well as medicine. Its alkaloids have a wide range of pharmacological activity and have good prospects for development in medicine and food. The resources of Zanthoxyli Pericarpium in China are abundant, and the intensive research on its active ingredients can promote the transformation and upgrading of industrial economy. This article reviewed the research status of extraction, content determination and physiological activity of alkaloids from Zanthoxyli Pericarpium, in order to provide references for efficient use of Zanthoxyli Pericarpium.

Tag single nucleotide polymorphism rs1532624 located in cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene is associated with atherosclerosis cerebral ischemia

Objective: To investigate the relationship between polymorphisms of rs1532624 and rs289741 loci in cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) genes and atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (ACI). Methods: The CETP gene rs1532624 and rs289741 in 95 patients with ACI and 177 healthy subjects were genotyped by MassARRAY mass spectrometry. Each locus genotype and allele frequency distributions were compared. Results: The difference of allele frequency distribution between the rs1532624 (χ

[Protection value evaluation of national wetland parks in Hunan Province, China]. / æ¹–å—çœå›½å®¶æ¹¿åœ°å ¬å›­ä¿æŠ¤ä»·å€¼è¯„ä»·.

This paper put forward an evaluation index system which included 5 aspects such as ecological location and representation, biodiversity, species rarity, naturality, scale and partition suitability as well as 15 indicators to assess the protection values of 60 national wetland parks in Hunan Province, China. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and entropy method were used in this evaluation index system. There were 37 national wetland parks (accounting for 61.7%) keeping high protection values with scores of greater than or equal to 67.64 points, and 12 national wetland parks (accounting for 20.0%) keeping very high protection values with scores of greater than or equal to 77.72 points. Although there was a discrete and rare regularity of the inter-annual variation, these values still showed a decreasing trend in general. From the space point of view, 70 points isogram divided the national wetland parks of Hunan Province into two high score areas and three high score points in the west and east area, and one low score area and four low score points in the middle. Ecological location, resource endowment and scale were the decisive factors for the conservation va-lues of national wetland parks in Hunan Province.

Anti-inflammatory potential of ß-cryptoxanthin against LPS-induced inflammation in mouse Sertoli cells.

ß-cryptoxanthin (CX), a major carotenoid pigment, can inhibit inflammatory gene expression in mice with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. In the present study, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of CX on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in mouse primary Sertoli cells and the possible molecular mechanisms behind its effects. The results showed that CX significantly inhibited LPS-induced decreases in cell viability and in the percentage of apoptotic cells. Moreover, CX inhibited the LPS-induced up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) in Sertoli cells. In addition, CX significantly limited the LPS-induced down-regulation of AR, HSF2, CREB, FSHR, INHBB and ABP in Sertoli cells. Western blot analysis showed that CX significantly suppressed NF-κB (p65) activation as well as MAPK phosphorylation. All the results suggested that CX suppressed inflammation, possibly associated with the NF-κB activation and MAPK of phosphorylation. Thus, CX may possess therapeutic potential against inflammation-related diseases.