Objective To study the prevalence and associated factors of loneliness in individuals with speech disability.Methods Using multi-stage stratified random cluster sampling method,170 community-residing ver-bally disabled persons were selected and administered with a general information questionnaire,one single -item loneliness self-rating question and social support scale.A total of 204 study questionnaires were distributed to the subjects;170 subjects(mean age:43.1±13.7 years)completed the survey.Results As high as 46.47% (79/170)of these verbally disabled individuals reported to feel lonely often.Females (OR=2.45),unemployment (OR=2.95), first and second degrees of disability (OR=4.35),co-existence of chronic illnesses (OR=6.50)and low utiliza-tion of social support (OR=2.58)were significantly associated with the increased risk of loneliness in persons with speech disability (P =0.002~0.046).Conclusion Loneliness is highly prevalent in individuals with speech disabili-ty.Verbally disabled persons,who are female,unemployed,severely disabled,and chronically ill and have a low use of social support,are the target population of mental health services.

Objective To detect the relationship between the polymorphism of the glycogen-targeting regulatory subunit of the skeletal muscle glycogen-associated protein phosphatase 1 (PPP1R3) gene and type 2 diabetes by case-control study. Methods We genotyped the PPP1R3 gene Asp905Tyr polymorphism and a common 3'-untranslated region AT (AU)-rich element (ARE) polymorphism in 101 type 2 diabetic patients and 101controls by oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA) and polyacrylamide gel elecrophoresis, respectively. Results Subjects with Tyr/Tyr genotypes whose body mass index (BMI)<25 were used as the reference group. Those whose BMI25 with Asp905 had a 3.66-fold increase (95% CI: 1.48-9.06, P=0.005) in type 2 diabetes risk. No association was found between 3'UTR ARE polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus (OR=1.15; 95% CI: 0.62-2.14, P=0.65). Conclusion A joint effect between the Asp905 and BMI increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, and Asp905Tyr and ARE polymorphism of PPP1R3 gene are not the major diabetogenic gene variants in Chinese population.

OBJECTIVETo determine the relationships of Met416Val and XbaI polymorphism of muscle glycogen synthase (GYS1) gene and Trg64Arg variant of the beta(3)-adrenergic-receptor (beta(3)-AR) gene with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and its intermediate phenotypes in the Chinese population.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction-oligonucleotide ligation assay and restriction fragment length polymorphism assay were used to evaluate the GYS1 and beta(3)-AR gene polymorphisms in 102 pairs of case-control Chinese spouses.

RESULTSSubjects with Met416Val variant had a significantly higher 2-hour post-glucose level than subjects without this variant had in diabetic group (P = 0.032). The Met416Val polymorphism of GYS1 gene was not significantly associated with the risk of type 2 DM (adjusted OR = 1.67; 95% CI: 0.73 - 3.81, P = 0.223). Subjects with Trp64Arg variant had a significantly higher serum uric acid level than subjects without this variant had in diabetic group (P = 0.034). The combination of BMI and Arg64 allele carrier of the beta(3)-AR gene increased the diabetic risk over four-fold (adjusted OR = 4.00; 95% CI: 1.53 - 10.45, P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONSIn the Chinese population, Met416Val polymorphism is identified in a subgroup of diabetic subjects with high 2-hour post-glucose. It will explain why some diabetic patients appear to be genetically predisposed to developing high postpradial glucose level. The presence of the Arg64 allele in the beta(3)-AR gene may predispose patients to higher serum uric acid level.

Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; genetics ; Glycogen Synthase ; genetics ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Postprandial Period ; physiology ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 ; genetics ; Uric Acid ; blood

Objective To compare the effect of nursing students acting as social volunteers to participate in gerontological nursing practice teaching with traditional practice teaching mode, and promote the reform of teaching mode in nursing practice. Methods Students of two classes from department of nursing, medical college of Wuhan University of Science and Technology were selected as research objects. In class one nursing students acted as social volunteers to participate in gerontological nursing practice teaching (the experimental group), In class two nursing students took practice in geriatric wards according to traditional practice mode(the control group). The practice effect was compared between two groups. Results The average final grade of the experimental group was 86.50, and 78.51 in the control group. Ridit analysis revealed that, setting class one as the experimental group, R=0.796 8,95% confidence interval was 0.715 1-0.878 4, in the control group, R =0.500 0. The investigation showed that the experimental group and the control group were different in moral elevation aspect, teaching level, capability improving aspect and employment promotion aspect, the difference was significant (P<0.01). Conclusions The mode of nursing students acting as social volunteers to participate in gerontological nursing practice teaching has advantage over traditional practice teaching, and it can gain satisfying teaching effect.

Objective To establish rat models of polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) induced by different methods,to assess the serum levels of several related hormones,to examine the morphological changes in the ovaries,and to discuss their significance.Methods Letrozol,sodium prasterone sulfate,or sodium prasterone sulfate combined with human chorionic gonadotropin were used to establish rat models of PCOS.Radioimmunoassay was used to measure the serum levels of hteinizing hormone(LH),follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),estrogen(E_2),progesterone(P),testosterone(T),prolactin(PRL),and insulin(INS).HE staining was used to examine the morphological changes of the ovaries.Results Comparing with the normal group A,the serum FSH was increased and the serum progesterone was reduced in the group B,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).The serum testosterone was significantly higher in the group B than in the group A(P<0.01).The levels of serum sex hormones and insulin were not significantly different in the group D and C(P>0.05).In comparison with the group C,the levels of serum testosterone and LH/FSH ratio was significantly increased in the group E.(P<0.05).Comparing with the group D,the serum levels of progesterone and testosterone were significantly increased in the group E(P<0.05).The ovaries in the rats of groups A and C showed almost a normal histyology,with mature follicles and dominant follicles.Polycystic changes were observed only in the ovaries of groups B,D and E.Conclusion At the aspect of affecting the level of sex hormones in serum and changing the ovarian morphology.adopting letrozol tablets or sodium prasterone sulfate combined with HCG to induce rat PCO model is more close to clinic manifestations and meets the criteria of PCO animals.In the rat PCOS models induced with letrozol or with sodium prasterone sulfate combined with HCG,either the serum levels of sex hormones and ovarian histology are quite similar to those of human clinical appearance,and may well meet the modeling requirements for future experimental studies of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective To investigate the effect of icariin on apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in rats with polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS)by regulating stromal cell-derived factor-1(SDF-1)/CXC chemokine receptor-4(CXCR4)signal axis.Methods Granular cells successfully isolated from ovarian tissue of rats in the PCOS model group were grouped into the PCOS group,the low-dose icariin group,the medium-dose icariin group,the high-dose icariin group,the Rr-SDF-1 group and the high-dose icariin+Rr-SDF-1 group.Granular cells successfully isolated from ovarian tissue of rats in the normal control group were taken as the control group.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was applied to detect levels of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),testosterone(T)and luteinizing hormone(LH)in supernatant of ovarian granulosa cells.CCK-8 method and EdU staining were applied to detect granulosa cell proliferation.Flow cytometry was applied to detect granulosa cell apoptosis.Western blot assay was applied to detect the expression of Bcl-2 associated X(Bax),Cleaved aspartate-specific cysteine protease-3(Cleaved Caspase-3),SDF-1,and CXCR4 proteins in granulosa cells.Results Compared with the control group,the FSH level,OD450 value and EdU positive cell rate were decreased in the PCOS group,and T and LH levels,apoptosis rate,Bax,Cleaved Caspase-3,SDF-1 and CXCR4 protein expression increased(P＜0.05).Compared with PCOS group,the FSH level,OD450 value and EdU positive cell rate were increased sequentially in the icariin low,medium and high dose groups,T and LH levels,apoptosis rate,Bax,Cleaved Caspase-3,SDF-1 and CXCR4 protein expression levels were decreased sequentially,and change trends of corresponding indicators were opposite to the above in the Rr-SDF-1 group(P＜0.05).Compared with the high-dose icariin group,FSH level,OD450 value and EdU positive cell rate were decreased in the high-dose icariin+Rr-SDF-1 group,and T and LH levels,apoptosis rate,Bax,Cleaved Caspase-3,SDF-1 and CXCR4 protein expression levels were increased(P＜0.05).Conclusion Icariin may inhibit the apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in PCOS rats by inhibiting the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathway.