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OBJECTIVE@#Herbal medicine is an important therapeutic option for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common disease in older men that can seriously affect their quality of life. Currently, it is crucial to develop agents with strong efficacy and few side effects. Herein we investigated the effects of the extract of Rauwolfia vomitoria, a shrub grown in West Africa, on BPH.@*METHODS@#Rats with testosterone-induced BPH were treated with R. vomitoria. Prostates were histologically analyzed by Hematoxylin and eosin staining. Proliferation index and the expression levels of androgen receptor and its associated proteins were quantified through immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. Androgen receptor target genes were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The sperm count and body weight of rats were also measured.@*RESULTS@#The oral administration of R. vomitoria extract significantly reduced the prostate weight and prostate weight index in BPH rats, supported by the decreased thickness of the prostate epithelial layer and increased lumen size. Similar effects were observed in the BPH rats treated with the reference drug, finasteride. R. vomitoria extract significantly reduced the testosterone-induced proliferation markers, including proliferating cell nuclear antigen and cyclin D1, in the prostate glands of BPH rats; it also reduced levels of androgen receptor, its associated protein steroid 5α-reductase 1 and its downstream target genes (FK506-binding protein 5 and matrix metalloproteinase 2). Notably, compared with the finasteride group, R. vomitoria extract did not significantly reduce sperm count.@*CONCLUSION@#R. vomitoria suppresses testosterone-induced BPH development. Due to its milder side effects, R. vomitoria could be a promising therapeutic agent for BPH.
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Objective To learn the capability and functioning status of prenatal ultrasound screening institutions in Beijing and inform decision-making on the optimization of prenatal screening management. Method By using the data from the second and the third National Special Survey on Prenatal Screening and Prenatal Diagnostic Services in Beijing,we analyzed the distribution,human resources,workload,technology,and equipment of ultrasound screening institutions in Beijing as well as their changing trends. Results From 2013 to 2015,there were 100 prenatal ultrasound screening institutions,833 technicians,and 383 prenatal ultrasound screening instruments in Beijing,offering over 600 000 service sessions.In contrast,there were 93 institutions with a total service volume of 644 100 between 2010 and 2012.The general hospitals,tertiary hospitals,and urban areas(especially urban functional development areas and new urban development areas)were the main sources of the services.In particular,the maternal and child health care hospitals in Beijing provided the highest amount of services per unit of resources.The average prenatal ultrasound screening rate was about 98.05%.The service delivery trended to transfer from urban areas to remote county areas and from secondary institutions to tertiary institutions.Conclusion The operation and management of prenatal ultrasound screening institutions in Beijing are relatively standard.The ultrasound screening rate is relatively high in the second trimester,and the distribution of the services has constantly been improved since 2010.
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Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Beijing , Hospitals, General , Mass Screening , Prenatal Diagnosis , Ultrasonography , Ultrasonography, PrenatalABSTRACT
Objective To construct composite indicators of maternal and child's basic health services using different weights from the prospective of continuum of care and to compare them based on data from the National Health Services Survey 2008 and 2013 in Jilin Province. Methods The study selected indicators based on the countdown and the Lives Saved Tool(LiST),considering the data availability from the 2008 and 2013 National Health Surveys in Jilin.Equal weights,equal weights for different areas,epidemiology weights,and principal component weights were used to construct different composite indicators.Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was used to test the internal consistency.Analysis of variance of randomized block design was used to test the differences.The Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated to compare the rank correlation.The maternal mortality,children under 5 years old mortality rate,and children under 5 years old stunting incidence were used as the outcome indicators to test the validity using correlation analysis. Results Finally 13 indicators were selected,with the Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient value exceeding 0.7,which means acceptable internal consistency of these indicators.Analysis of variance showed that the scores were not significantly the same(F=8.14,P<0.01).The rank correlations among equal weights,principal component weights,and equal weights for different areas composite indicators were quite strong,and the Spearman's correlation coefficient between either two were all above 0.9,while the epidemiology weights composite indicator got smaller Spearman's correlation coefficient with equal weights,principal component weights,and equal weights for different areas composite indicators(0.697,0.671,and 0.818,respectively).The composite indicator using epidemiology weights showed significant negative correlation with children under 5 years old mortality rate and children under 5 years old stunting incidence(R=0.168,P<0.05;R=0.398,P<0.01,respectively).The composite indicators using equal weights,equal weights for different areas and principal component weights only showed significant negative correlation with children under 5 years old stunting incidence(R=0.238,R=0.304,R=0.232,P<0.01 for all,respectively).Conclusion The composite indicator using epidemiology objective weights has some predictive value for maternal and child health outcomes.