ABSTRACT
In mammalian species, females are born with a number of oocytes exceeding what they release via ovulation. In humans, an average girl is born with over a thousand times more oocytes than she will ovulate in her lifetime. The reason for having such an excessive number of oocytes in a neonatal female ovary is currently unknown. However, it is well established that the oocyte number decreases throughout the entire lifetime until the ovary loses them all. In this review, data published in the past 80 years were used to assess the current knowledge regarding the changing number of oocytes in humans and mice, as well as the reported factors that contribute to the decline of oocyte numbers. Briefly, a collective estimation indicates that an average girl is born with approximately 600,000 oocytes, which is 2,000 times more than the number of oocytes that she will ovulate in her lifetime. The oocyte number begins to decrease immediately after birth and is reduced to half of the initial number by puberty and almost zero by age 50 years. Multiple factors that are either intrinsic or extrinsic to the ovary contribute to the decline of the oocyte number. The inflammation caused by the ovulatory luteinizing hormone surge is discussed as a potential contributing factor to the decline of the oocyte pool during the reproductive lifespan.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate and analyze the attitude and its influencing factors of traditional knowledge of Chinese medicine among students in a Traditional Chinese Medicine ( TCM) college in Shaanxi Province, and provide scientific evidence for improving the relevant institution and policies. Method:A stratified cluster sampling method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey of 1,162 students in a TCM college in Shaanxi Province. Rank sum test and multiple linear regression model were used to explore the factors affecting the attitude of students. Result:The score of attitudes towards TCM protection was(43. 09 ± 6. 50), while specialty, parental education, family members' attitudes towards TCM, evaluation of courses in TCM, had taken related courses or not, clinical practice or internship experience of TCM, and the score of correlative knowledge were the influencing factors of attitudes ( P<0 . 05 ) . Conclusion:Students of this school had a relatively positive attitude towards the protection of traditional knowledge of Chinese medicine. In order to cultivate the fresh troop for the development of TCM, it is suggested that the system of TCM courses and textbooks should be reformed so as to improve students' enthusiasm for protecting traditional knowledge of Chinese medicine and establishing a special institution.