Objective This study was to explore deaf people's needs for a smooth communication with doctors and/or nurses during health consultation in the outpatient department or when being hospitalized and supply reference for compilation of sign language textbooks.Methods Purposive sampling was used and semi-structured interviews were conducted.Six deaf participants who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were interviewed.It lased for 20 to 40 minutes for each interview.Interviews were recorded digitally and then transcribed and validated.Transcripts were analyzed using a method of thematic analysis.Results Three themes were identified,i.e.needs for sign language interpreters,needs for information and knowledge.and needs for psychosocial and emotional support.Needs for sign language interpreters meant that doctors and nurses were able to communicate with them using simple sign language instead of terminology.The required information and knowledge covered three aspects,i.e.health condition,pharmaceutical therapy,and self-care activity.Conclusions There may exist serious communicative barriers for deaf people during their health consultation in the outpatient department or when being hospitalized.There is a need for healthcare professionals who are competent in sign language to establish the health delivery environment with minimal barriers.

Objective This study aimed to explore issues about dysandia female during pregnancy,peripartum and contraception and to supply reference for their reproductive health improvement. Methods Purposive sampling strategy was used. With the aid of an interview guide, 12 dysaudia women who met inclu-sion and exclusion criteria were invited to be interviewed. Interviews were recorded, validated and then ana-lyzed. Results Four themes were generated, limited knowledge, passive information acquisition, total depen-dence on family and reluctant to talk about contraception. Total dependence on family was noticeable during pregnancy and peripartum. Though little was known about health protection related to pregnancy, peripartum and contraception, participants were passive at seeking for relevant information. Conclusions Deaf women may experience more threats to reproductive health in relation to pregnancy, peripartum and contraception that they require more guidance and assistance.

OBJECTIVETo determine the regulatory role and mechanism of nitric oxide (NO) in the development and hatching of mouse blastocysts.

METHODSThe Kunming female mice were superovulated and then mated with mature male mice. On the day 2.5 of their pregnancy, morulae were flushed from their uterine horns with culture media. Morulae were cultured in different concentrations of N-nitro-L arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), or the combination of L-NAME and SNP in culture media for 48 hours. The development and hatching of blastocysts were examined on day 4 and day 5 and the total numbers of blastocyst cells and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 (caspase 3) were observed under confocal laser scanning microscope.

RESULTSWith the increase of the concentration of L-NAME or SNP, the hatching rate of blastocysts and the total number of blastocyst cells were significantly reduced. The addition of 10 nmol/L SNP in culture media with 5 mmol/L L-NAME significantly increased the development of blastocysts and promoted hatching of blastocysts. However, with increase of SNP concentration in culture media with 5 mmol/L L-NAME, the development and hatching rates of blastocysts were significantly decreased. L-NAME had no obvious effect on the expression of active caspase 3 in blastocyst cells. However,when being above 500 nmol/L,SNP significantly increased the expression of caspase 3 in blastocyst cells.

CONCLUSIONSNO plays an important role in development and hatching of mouse blastocysts. Excessively high or low NO can damage the division of blastomeres, resulting in the failure of the blastocyst development and hatching. Also, excessively high NO can lead to the apoptosis of the blastocyst cells.

Animals ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; Blastocyst ; Culture Media ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitroprusside ; Pregnancy ; Uterus