Township and Village Health Services Integration Management (TVHSIM) is an essential form of China's two-tiered health service integration plan at the township and village level.Its main purpose,also one of the target goals in China's new healthcare reform,is to gradually integrate rural health services and appropriately allocate rural health resources.This study aims to assess the village doctors' satisfaction with the TVHSIM and provide scientific base to further improve TVHSIM.A cross-sectional study was carried out in which 162 village doctors from Qinghai,Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang in western China were interviewed.Descriptive analysis,independent t-test,one-way ANOVA,Spearman rank correlation and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the difference and relevance between village doctors' personal characteristics and their satisfaction with TVHSIM and six subscales.Village doctors with different years of practice,social insurance status and essential medical knowledge level showed statistically significant differences in their satisfaction levels (all P＜0.05).Age (P＜0.05) and years of practice (P＜0.01) were negatively correlated with Drug and Medical Device Management and Financing Management.Essential medical knowledge level (P＜0.05) was negatively correlated with Operations Management as well.However,social insurance status (P＜0.05) was positively correlated with Human Resources Management and Drug and Medical Device management.Gender,age and years of practice respectively had significant influence on village doctors' satisfaction with TVHSIM (P＜0.01).In conclusion,in order to further promote TVHSIM policy in rural China,a well-rounded social insurance model for village doctors is urgently needed.In addition,the development of TVHSIM is regionally imbalanced.Efficient and effective measures aiming at rationalizing gender and age structure and enhancing essential medical training should be carefully considered.

BACKGROUNDSuppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins are inhibitors of cytokine signaling pathway involved in negative feedback loops. Although SOCS1 is an important intracellular suppressor of apoptosis in a variety of cell types, its role in cytokine-induced pancreatic β-cell apoptosis remains unclear. The present study investigated potential effects of SOCS1 on the cytokine-induced pancreatic β-cell apoptosis.

METHODSAfter successfully transfected with SOCS1/pEGFP-C1 or pEGFP-C1 plasmids to overexpress SOCS1, RINm5F (rat insulinoma cell line) cells were exposed to cytokines, interferon (IFN)-γ alone, IFN-γ+interleukin (IL)-1β, IFN-β+IL-1β+tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α respectively. Pancreatic β-cell apoptosis was assessed by using MTT, FACS, and caspase-3 activity assays. Protein phosphorylation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1) were verified by Western blotting and mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), NF-κB and Fas were analyzed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSOverexpression of SOCS1 in RINm5F cells was shown to attenuate IFN-γ alone, IFN-γ+IL-1β and IFN-γ+TNF-α+IL-1β mediated apoptosis. Phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT1 significantly decreased in RINm5F cells which overexpressed SOCS1 protein. Overexpression of SOCS1 significantly suppressed cytokine-induced iNOS mRNA levels.

CONCLUSIONOverexpression of SOCS1 protects pancreatic islets from cytokine-induced cell apoptosis via the JAK2/STAT1 pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Cytokines ; pharmacology ; Interferon-gamma ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-1 ; pharmacology ; Islets of Langerhans ; cytology ; drug effects ; Janus Kinase 2 ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the differential patterns of gene expression in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and healthy subjects using DNA microarray analysis.

METHODST2DM patiens were divided into female group, young male group and old male group. DNA microarray analysis and quantitative real-time PCR were carried out to analyze the relation between gene expressions and T2DM.

RESULTSThe mRNA expression of 298, 578, and 350 genes was changed in the skeletal muscle of diabetes mellitus patients compared with control subjects. The 1320, 1143, and 2847 genes were modified in adipose tissue of the three groups. Among the genes surveyed, the change of 25 and 39 gene transcripts in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue was > or = 2 folds. These differentially expressed genes were classified into 15 categories according to their functions.

CONCLUSIONNew genes are found and T2DM can be prevented or cured.

Adipose Tissue ; metabolism ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

Primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disease involving exocrine glands. Current studies have found that the occurrence of the disease is closely related to genetic, environmental and neuroendocrine factors, as well as abnormal activation of T and B lymphocytes. The etiology and pathogenesis of pSS is complex, and there is a lack of specific targeted drugs. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been comprehensively investigated for their treatment effects on pSS. Through a systematic review of the literature, we summarized the TCMs used to treat pSS, and find that there are four major ways that TCMs are used, including upregulation of aquaporin proteins, suppression of cell apoptosis, suppression of the abnormal activation of B lymphocytes and suppression of the abnormal activation of T lymphocytes (balancing T helper type [Th]1/Th2 & Th17/Treg and suppressing follicular helper T [Tfh] cells). However, there are not enough data about the active constituents, quality control, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and modern preparations of these TCMs; therefore, more investigations are needed. This paper highlights the importance of TCMs for treating pSS and provides guidance for future investigations.

OBJECTIVEInterferon-γ (IFN-γ) plays an important role in apoptosis and was shown to increase the risk of diabetes. Visfatin, an adipokine, has anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, and regulating inflammatory properties. In this study we investigated the effect of visfatin on IFN-γ-induced apoptosis in rat pancreatic β-cells.

METHODSThe RINm5F (rat insulinoma cell line) cells exposed to IFN-γ were treated with or without visfatin. The viability and apoptosis of the cells were assessed by using MTT and flow cytometry. The expressions of mRNA and protein were detected by using real-time PCR and western blot analysis.

RESULTSThe exposure of RINm5F cells to IFN-γ for 48 h led to increased apoptosis percentage of the cells. Visfatin pretreatment significantly increased the cell viability and reduced the cell apoptosis induced by IFN-γ. IFN-γ-induced increase in expression of p53 mRNA and cytochrome c protein, decrease in mRNA and protein levels of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 were attenuated by visfatin pretreatment. Visfatin also increased AMPK and ERK1/2 phosphorylation and the anti-apoptotic action of visfatin was attenuated by the AMPK and ERK1/2 inhibitor.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggested that visfatin protected pancreatic islet cells against IFN-γ-induced apoptosis via mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway. The anti-apoptotic action of visfatin is mediated by activation of AMPK and ERK1/2 signaling molecules.

Adenylate Kinase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Cell Line ; Cytokines ; physiology ; Flow Cytometry ; Interferon-gamma ; physiology ; Islets of Langerhans ; cytology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase ; physiology ; Rats ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction

Applying Chinese medicine (CM) is an important strategy for malignant tumor treatment in China. One of the significant characteristics of CM is to treat diseases based on syndrome differentiation. For Western medicine, it is of important clinical significance to formulate guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients based on the characteristics of disease differentiation. In Chinese clinical practice, the combination of disease differentiation and syndrome differentiation is an important feature for cancer treatment in the past. Currently, molecular profiling and genomic analysis-based precision medicine optimizes the anticancer drug design and holds the greatest success in treating cancer patients. Therefore, we want to know which populations of cancer patients can benefit more from CM treatment if the theory of precision medicine is applied to CM clinical practice. So, we developed a novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategy "disease-syndrome differentiation-genomic profiling-prescriptions" for cancer patients by CM syndrome differentiation and precision medicine. As a result, this strategy has greatly enhanced the anti-tumor efficacy of CM and improved clinical outcomes for cancer patients with some gene mutations. Our idea will hopefully establish a novel approach for the inheritance and innovation of CM.
Antineoplastic Agents ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neoplasms/therapy* ; Precision Medicine ; Syndrome

Background: Nickel-induced allergic contact dermatitis (Ni-ACD) is a global health problem. More detailed knowledge on the skin uptake of haptens is required. This study aimed to investigate the penetration process and distribution of nickel in skin tissues with late phase and early phase of Ni-ACD to understand the mechanisms of metal allergy. Methods: Forty Hartley guinea pigs were divided into four groups according to the NiSO₄ sensitizing concentration and the NiSO₄ challenged concentration: the 5% NiSO₄-group, 5% to 10% (sensitization-challenge; late phase group); 10% NiSO₄-group, 10% to 10% (sensitization-challenge; early-phase group); and the positive and negative controls. Pathological biopsies were performed on each group. The depth profile of nickel element concentration in the skin of guinea pigs was detected by synchrotron radiation micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (SR-μ-XRF) and micro X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (μ-XANES). Results: In each section, the nickel element concentration in both the 5% NiSO₄-group and 10% NiSO₄-group was significantly higher than that in the negative control group. In the upper 300-μm section of skin for the early phase group, the nickel element concentration was significantly higher than that in the lower section of skin. In deeper sections (<200 μm) of skin, the concentration of nickel in the early phase group was approximately equal to that in the late phase group. The curve of the late phase group was flat, which means that the nickel element concentration was distributed uniformly by SR-μ-XRF. According to the XANES data for the 10% NiSO₄ metal salt solution, structural changes occurred in the skin model sample, indicating that nickel was not present in the Ni²⁺ aqueous ionic state but in the nickel-binding protein. Conclusions This study showed that the distribution of the nickel element concentration in ACD skin tissue was different between the early phase and late phase groups. The nickel element was not present in the Ni²⁺ aqueous ionic state but bound with certain proteins to form a complex in the stratum corneum in ACD model tissue.

Malocclusion is one of the three most common oral diseases reported by World Health Organization(WHO). In China, its incidence rate is rising. Malocclusion seriously affects the dental and maxillofacial function, facial appearance and growth development of nearly 260 million children in China, and what is more, it affects their physical and mental health development. Malocclusion occurrence is related to genetic and environmental factors. Early treatment of malocclusion can create a good dental and maxillofacial development environment, correct abnormal growth and control the adverse effects of abnormal genetic factors. It can effectively reduce the prevalence of children's malocclusion and enhance their physical and mental health. This is an urgent need from the economic perspective of our society, so it has great practical and social significance. Experts from the project group "standard diagnose and treatment protocols for early orthodontic intervention of malocclusions of children" which initiated by China National Health Institute of Hospital Administration wrote the "China Experts' Consensus on Preventive and Interceptive Orthodontic Treatments of Malocclusions of Children", which aims to guide and popularize the clinical practice, improve the clinical theory and practice level, and accelerate the disciplinary development of early treatment of children's malocclusion in China. The consensus elaborates the harmfulness of malocclusion and the necessity of early treatment, and brings up the principles and fundamental contents. Based on the law of dental and maxillofacial development, this paper puts forward the guiding suggestions of preventive and interceptive treatments in different stages of dental development ranging from fetus to early permanent dentition. It is a systematic project to promote and standardize the early treatment of malocclusion. Through scientific and comprehensive stratified clinical practice and professional training, the clinical system of early treatment of malocclusion in China will eventually be perfected, so as to comprehensively care for children's dental and maxillofacial health, and improve their oral and physical health in China.
Child ; China/epidemiology* ; Consensus ; Dental Care ; Humans ; Malocclusion/prevention & control* ; Orthodontics, Interceptive