Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common disorder of yet uncertain etiology. Dyspeptic symptoms are usually meal related and suggest an association to gastrointestinal (GI) sensorimotor dysfunction. Cholecystokinin ...Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common disorder of yet uncertain etiology. Dyspeptic symptoms are usually meal related and suggest an association to gastrointestinal (GI) sensorimotor dysfunction. Cholecystokinin (CCK) is an established brain-gut peptide that plays an important regulatory role in gastrointestinal function. It inhibits gastric motility and emptying via a capsaicin sensitive vagal pathway. The effects on emptying are via its action on the proximal stomach and pylorus. CCK is also involved in the regulation of food intake. It is released in the gut in response to a meal and acts via vagal afferents to induce satiety. Furthermore CCK has also been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of panic disorder, anxiety and pain. Other neurotransmitters such as serotonin and noradrenaline may be implicated with CCK in the coordination of GI activity. In addition, intravenous administration of CCK has been observed to reproduce the symptoms in FD and this effect can be blocked both by atropine and Ioxiglumide (CCK-A antagonist). It is possible that an altered response to CCK may be responsible for the commonly observed gastric sensorimotor dysfunction, which may then be associated with the genesis of dyspeptic symptoms.展开更多
OBJECTIVE The current retrospective study aims to evaluate the management of non-functioning the assessment of experience on pituitary macroadenoma through clinical, biochemical, radiological features, and treatment o...OBJECTIVE The current retrospective study aims to evaluate the management of non-functioning the assessment of experience on pituitary macroadenoma through clinical, biochemical, radiological features, and treatment outcome of patients, and to identify prognostic factors affecting progression-free survival (PFS). METHODS Data of 55 patients macroadenoma presented to the with non-functioning pituitary Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine department between 1998 and 2009 were investigated. RESULTS The most common symptom was visual disturbance (38.2%) followed by headache (27.3%). The presence of male predominance was observed (1.4:1). Ten patients received radio-therapy (RT) only. Extrasellar extension was the more common treatment. The overall response rate was 72.8% with completed response at 16.4%. Memory and intellectual sequelae were the most common late complications of treatment (14%). The ten-year PFS was at 84.6%. PFS was found to be significantly better with higher dose of RT (up to 54 Gy), treatment by both surgery and RT, absence of visual field defect, and tumor localized to sella, whereas it was not significantly affected by age and sex. CONCLUSION The data confirmed that the prevalence of mass effect and hypopituitarism in patients with non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma is elevated. Conventional external RT up to 54 Gy is safe and effective in controlling non-functioning pituitary macro- adenoma with tolerable and acceptable morbidity.展开更多
The perceived usefulness of Fair Trade influences both its effectiveness and farmers' long-term participation. The aim of this paper is to measure the perceived economic, social and environmental impact of Fair Trade...The perceived usefulness of Fair Trade influences both its effectiveness and farmers' long-term participation. The aim of this paper is to measure the perceived economic, social and environmental impact of Fair Trade by farmers in Costa Rica. One hundred farmers were interviewed, and their perceived change in living and working conditions due to Fair Trade participation was measured through a t-test analysis. The sample characters' influence on the perceived change was also measured, adopting a regression model and a t-test. The results showed a positive perception of the impact of Fair Trade, with a particularly strong perceived improvement in the farmers' technical, economic and managerial skills. There was relatively less perceived change in the environmental, educational and sanitary conditions. The results showed the need for Fair Trade to better adjust its strategy to the expectations of the farmers' communities.展开更多
In order to study the evacuation behavior of miners during accidents,we analyzed the rational layout of a safe chamber,and improved evacuation efficiency.A visual model of evacuation was developed and used to simulate...In order to study the evacuation behavior of miners during accidents,we analyzed the rational layout of a safe chamber,and improved evacuation efficiency.A visual model of evacuation was developed and used to simulate the evacuation process of mines,given their special underground environments.In our simulation,the working faces of a coal mine and nearby tunnels were divided into 0.5 m×0.5 m grids to reflect the location of occupants and obstacles.Based on a "flow potential of the occupant",we determined the direction of movement and routes of occupants.In the model,evacuation speed changed as a function of crowd density,with an average speed of 1.30 m/s.The model also takes into account detection time of the disaster and the personnel response time.Evacuation time,exit flow rate and evacuation path were obtained by simulation.The results indicate that using simulation technology can present a more visual evacuation process and show the behavior of occupants.Our establishment of a mine safety evacuation system has merit as reference value.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To review and discuss the Chinese and English literature on the use of pain-related evoked potentials(PREP) and short-latency somatosensory EP(SLSEP) in acupuncture research.METHODS:China National Knowledge ...OBJECTIVE:To review and discuss the Chinese and English literature on the use of pain-related evoked potentials(PREP) and short-latency somatosensory EP(SLSEP) in acupuncture research.METHODS:China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database and MEDLINE were searched for the following key words:acupuncture and PREP or SLSEP.RESULTS:Thirty-seven articles were included in the review.Researchers usually use PREPs to study the analgesic effect of acupuncture,observe influential factors,or for mechanistic exploration.In the SLSEP studies,researchers focused on response characteristics of acupuncture,acupoint specificity,and influential factors of the treatment.There were some problems with the study design and conclusions.CONCLUSION:Researchers could use PREP and SLSEP to objectively validate the effects of acupuncture and explore its mechanisms using nerve electrophysiology.Further studies can benefit from observing more acupoints' effects using PREPs or SLSEPs and investigating the placebo effect of acupuncture.展开更多
It has been 25years since the formalization of the Sensory Drive hypothesis was published in the American Naturalist (1992). Since then, there has been an explosion of research identifying its utility in contributin...It has been 25years since the formalization of the Sensory Drive hypothesis was published in the American Naturalist (1992). Since then, there has been an explosion of research identifying its utility in contributing to our understanding of inter- and intra-specific variation in sensory systems and signaling properties. The main tenet of Sensory Drive is that environmental characteristics will influence the evolutionary trajectory of both sensory (detecting capabilities) and signaling (detectable features and behaviors) traits in predictable directions. We review the accumulating evidence in 154 studies addressing these questions and categorized their approach in terms of testing for environmental influence on sensory tuning, signal characteristics, or both. For the subset of studies that examined sensory tuning, there was greater support for Sensory Drive processes shaping visual than auditory tuning, and it was more prevalent in aquatic than terrestrial habitats. Terrestrial habitats and visual traits were the prevalent habitat and sensory modality in the 104 studies showing support for environmental influence on signaling properties. An additional 19 studies that found no supporting evidence for environmental influence on signaling traits were all based in terrestrial ecosystems and almost exclusively involved auditory signals. Only 29 studies examined the complete coevolutionary process between sensory and signaling traits and were dominated by fish visual communication. We discuss biophysical factors that may contribute to the visual and aquatic bias for Sensory Drive evidence, as well as biotic factors that may contribute to the lack of Sensory Drive processes in terrestrial acoustic signaling systems.展开更多
文摘Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common disorder of yet uncertain etiology. Dyspeptic symptoms are usually meal related and suggest an association to gastrointestinal (GI) sensorimotor dysfunction. Cholecystokinin (CCK) is an established brain-gut peptide that plays an important regulatory role in gastrointestinal function. It inhibits gastric motility and emptying via a capsaicin sensitive vagal pathway. The effects on emptying are via its action on the proximal stomach and pylorus. CCK is also involved in the regulation of food intake. It is released in the gut in response to a meal and acts via vagal afferents to induce satiety. Furthermore CCK has also been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of panic disorder, anxiety and pain. Other neurotransmitters such as serotonin and noradrenaline may be implicated with CCK in the coordination of GI activity. In addition, intravenous administration of CCK has been observed to reproduce the symptoms in FD and this effect can be blocked both by atropine and Ioxiglumide (CCK-A antagonist). It is possible that an altered response to CCK may be responsible for the commonly observed gastric sensorimotor dysfunction, which may then be associated with the genesis of dyspeptic symptoms.
文摘OBJECTIVE The current retrospective study aims to evaluate the management of non-functioning the assessment of experience on pituitary macroadenoma through clinical, biochemical, radiological features, and treatment outcome of patients, and to identify prognostic factors affecting progression-free survival (PFS). METHODS Data of 55 patients macroadenoma presented to the with non-functioning pituitary Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine department between 1998 and 2009 were investigated. RESULTS The most common symptom was visual disturbance (38.2%) followed by headache (27.3%). The presence of male predominance was observed (1.4:1). Ten patients received radio-therapy (RT) only. Extrasellar extension was the more common treatment. The overall response rate was 72.8% with completed response at 16.4%. Memory and intellectual sequelae were the most common late complications of treatment (14%). The ten-year PFS was at 84.6%. PFS was found to be significantly better with higher dose of RT (up to 54 Gy), treatment by both surgery and RT, absence of visual field defect, and tumor localized to sella, whereas it was not significantly affected by age and sex. CONCLUSION The data confirmed that the prevalence of mass effect and hypopituitarism in patients with non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma is elevated. Conventional external RT up to 54 Gy is safe and effective in controlling non-functioning pituitary macro- adenoma with tolerable and acceptable morbidity.
文摘The perceived usefulness of Fair Trade influences both its effectiveness and farmers' long-term participation. The aim of this paper is to measure the perceived economic, social and environmental impact of Fair Trade by farmers in Costa Rica. One hundred farmers were interviewed, and their perceived change in living and working conditions due to Fair Trade participation was measured through a t-test analysis. The sample characters' influence on the perceived change was also measured, adopting a regression model and a t-test. The results showed a positive perception of the impact of Fair Trade, with a particularly strong perceived improvement in the farmers' technical, economic and managerial skills. There was relatively less perceived change in the environmental, educational and sanitary conditions. The results showed the need for Fair Trade to better adjust its strategy to the expectations of the farmers' communities.
文摘In order to study the evacuation behavior of miners during accidents,we analyzed the rational layout of a safe chamber,and improved evacuation efficiency.A visual model of evacuation was developed and used to simulate the evacuation process of mines,given their special underground environments.In our simulation,the working faces of a coal mine and nearby tunnels were divided into 0.5 m×0.5 m grids to reflect the location of occupants and obstacles.Based on a "flow potential of the occupant",we determined the direction of movement and routes of occupants.In the model,evacuation speed changed as a function of crowd density,with an average speed of 1.30 m/s.The model also takes into account detection time of the disaster and the personnel response time.Evacuation time,exit flow rate and evacuation path were obtained by simulation.The results indicate that using simulation technology can present a more visual evacuation process and show the behavior of occupants.Our establishment of a mine safety evacuation system has merit as reference value.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)-the Effect of De Qi on Acupoint Specific Effect Based on Meridians and its Characteristics and Molecular Response Mechanisms(No.2012CB518506)Research on Acupoint Specificity in Regulating Uterus(No.2006CB504503)+2 种基金Research on Laws of Acupoint Effects(No.2005CB523308)National Natural Science Foundation of China-Traditional Acupuncture Formula for Inducing Labor(Hegu-Sanyinjiao,LI4-SP6)Electro-acupuncture Parameter Optimization and Molecular Response Mechanisms(No.30973793)the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of Ministry Education of China-Research Based on Primary Dysmenorrhea on Electric Characteristics of Acupoints Which Were Different Ones on the Same Meridians or Similar Ones on the Different Meridians(No.20090013110005)
文摘OBJECTIVE:To review and discuss the Chinese and English literature on the use of pain-related evoked potentials(PREP) and short-latency somatosensory EP(SLSEP) in acupuncture research.METHODS:China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database and MEDLINE were searched for the following key words:acupuncture and PREP or SLSEP.RESULTS:Thirty-seven articles were included in the review.Researchers usually use PREPs to study the analgesic effect of acupuncture,observe influential factors,or for mechanistic exploration.In the SLSEP studies,researchers focused on response characteristics of acupuncture,acupoint specificity,and influential factors of the treatment.There were some problems with the study design and conclusions.CONCLUSION:Researchers could use PREP and SLSEP to objectively validate the effects of acupuncture and explore its mechanisms using nerve electrophysiology.Further studies can benefit from observing more acupoints' effects using PREPs or SLSEPs and investigating the placebo effect of acupuncture.
文摘It has been 25years since the formalization of the Sensory Drive hypothesis was published in the American Naturalist (1992). Since then, there has been an explosion of research identifying its utility in contributing to our understanding of inter- and intra-specific variation in sensory systems and signaling properties. The main tenet of Sensory Drive is that environmental characteristics will influence the evolutionary trajectory of both sensory (detecting capabilities) and signaling (detectable features and behaviors) traits in predictable directions. We review the accumulating evidence in 154 studies addressing these questions and categorized their approach in terms of testing for environmental influence on sensory tuning, signal characteristics, or both. For the subset of studies that examined sensory tuning, there was greater support for Sensory Drive processes shaping visual than auditory tuning, and it was more prevalent in aquatic than terrestrial habitats. Terrestrial habitats and visual traits were the prevalent habitat and sensory modality in the 104 studies showing support for environmental influence on signaling properties. An additional 19 studies that found no supporting evidence for environmental influence on signaling traits were all based in terrestrial ecosystems and almost exclusively involved auditory signals. Only 29 studies examined the complete coevolutionary process between sensory and signaling traits and were dominated by fish visual communication. We discuss biophysical factors that may contribute to the visual and aquatic bias for Sensory Drive evidence, as well as biotic factors that may contribute to the lack of Sensory Drive processes in terrestrial acoustic signaling systems.