Propriedades psicométricas da GAD-7 no Brasil / Psychometric properties of GAD-7 in Brazil / Propiedades psicométricas de GAD-7 en Brasil

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar as propriedades psicométricas da escala Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) em uma amostra não clínica brasileira. Para tanto, foi realizada Análise Fatorial Confirmatória e de invariância de medida, assim como investigada evidências de fidedignidade e de validade baseada na relação com outras variáveis. Além disso, rastreou-se os níveis de ansiedade no contexto da pandemia da COVID-19 e verificou-se a relação com o sexo e a escolaridade da amostra. Participaram 4805 pessoas, de ambos os sexos e de todas as regiões do país, com idade média de aproximadamente 30 anos. Os resultados evidenciaram unidimensionalidade da GAD-7 e sua invariância de medida entre indivíduos com diferentes níveis de escolaridade e sexo. Os participantes apresentaram, em sua maioria, nível moderado e severo de ansiedade. Observou-se que o sexo feminino e menor nível de escolaridade aumentaram as chances de apresentar sintomatologia ansiosa significativa

This paper aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) in a Brazilian non-clinical sample. To this end, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis and measurement invariance were performed, as well as investigating evidence of reliability and validity based on the relationship with other variables. In addition, anxiety levels were tracked in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and their relationship with sociodemographic characteristics was verified. 4805 people participated, of both sexes and from all regions of the country, with an average age of 31.3 years (SD = 11.91). The results showed onedimensionality of GAD-7 and its measurement equivalence between individuals with different levels of education and sex. The scale showed validity converging with the Questionnaire on Patient Health. Most of the participants had a moderate and severe level of anxiety. It was observed that the female gender and lower education level increased the chances of significant anxious symptoms

Este trabajo evaluó las propiedades psicométricas de la escala de Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada (GAD-7) en una muestra brasileña no clínica. Se realizó un Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio e invarianza de medida, y se investigó evidencias de confiabilidad y validez en base a la relación con otras variables. Además, se rastreó los niveles de ansiedad en el contexto de la pandemia de COVID-19 y se verificó su relación con las variables sociodemográficas. Participaron 4805 personas, de ambos sexos y de todas las regiones del país, con una edad media de 31,3 años (DE = 11,91). Los resultados mostraron unidimensionalidad de GAD-7 y su equivalencia de medida entre individuos con diferentes niveles de educación y sexo. La escala mostró validez convergente con el Cuestionario de Salud del Paciente. La mayoría de la muestra presentaba un nivel de ansiedad moderado y severo. Se observó que el sexo femenino y el menor nivel educativo aumentaron las posibilidades de presentar síntomas ansiosos

Active fraction combination from Liuwei Dihuang decoction improves adult hippocampal neurogenesis and neurogenic microenvironmentin cranially irradiated mice / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Cranial radiotherapy is clinically used in the treatment of brain tumors;however, the conse?quent cognitive and emotional dysfunctions seriously impair the life quality of patients. LW-AFC, an active fraction combi?nation extracted from classical traditional Chinese medicine prescription Liuwei Dihuang decoction, can improve cogni?tive and emotional dysfunctions in many animal models;however, the protective effect of LW-AFC on cranial irradiation-induced cognitive and emotional dysfunctions has not been reported. Recent studies indicate that impairment of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) and alterations of the neurogenic microenvironment in the hippocampus constitute crit?ical factors in cognitive and emotional dysfunctions following cranial irradiation. Here, our research further investigated the potential protective effects and mechanisms of LW-AFC on cranial irradiation-induced cognitive and emotional dys?functions in mice. METHODS LW-AFC (1.6 g·kg-1) was intragastrically administered to mice for 14 d before cranial irra?diation (7 Gyγ-ray). AHN was examined by quantifying the number of proliferative neural stem cells and immature neu?rons in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus. The contextual fear conditioning test, open field test, and tail suspension test were used to assess cognitive and emotional functions in mice. To detect the change of the neurogenic microenvi?ronment, colorimetry and multiplex bead analysis were performed to measure the level of oxidative stress, neurotrophic and growth factors, and inflammation in the hippocampus. RESULTS LW-AFC exerted beneficial effects on the contex?tual fear memory, anxiety behavior, and depression behavior in irradiated mice. Moreover, LW-AFC increased the num?ber of proliferative neural stem cells and immature neurons in the dorsal hippocampus, displaying a regional specificity of neurogenic response. For the neurogenic microenvironment, LW-AFC significantly increased the contents of superox?ide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, and catalase and decreased the content of malondialdehyde in the hippocampus of irradiated mice, accompanied by the increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, and interleukin-4 content. Together, LW-AFC improved cognitive and emotional dysfunctions, promoted AHN preferentially in the dorsal hippocampus, and ameliorated disturbance in the neurogenic microenvironment in irradiated mice. CONCLUSION LW-AFC ameliorates cranial irradiation-induced cognitive and emotional dysfunctions, and the underlying mechanisms are mediated by promoting AHN in the dorsal hippocampus and improving the neurogenic micro?environment. LW-AFC might be a promising therapeutic agent to treat cognitive and emotional dysfunctions in patients receiving cranial radiotherapy.

Validez del instrumento para determinar los detonantes de las capacidades de innovación en las organizaciones dedicadas al cuidado de la salud / Validity of the instrument to determine the triggers of innovation capabilities in organizations dedicated to health care

La propuesta pretende validar un instrumento que de cuenta de los predictores de las capacidades de innovación en las organizaciones dedicadas al cuidado de la salud. Se acogieron dos técnicas, una de ellas es el Análisis Factorial Exploratorio (AFE), y la otra, el Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio (AFC). La muestra estuvo conformada por 200 observaciones, las mismas fueron obtenidas de la red de los hospitales de alta complejidad en Colombia durante los años 2016 y 2017. La investigación arrojó como primer aspecto un instrumento válido desde sus constructos y reactivos (Gestión del conocimiento y del Talento Humano, Capacidades Directivas, Cultura Organizacional, y finalmente los asociados a la Organización en Salud). Como segundo aspecto, fruto del anàlisis factorial, se pudo probar el modelo teórico. Este tipo de iniciativa es pionera, especialmente por tres razones: 1) Abordaje de dicha corriente en el sector salud; 2) la amplitud conceptual de un gran número de predictores internos de las Capacidades de Innovación y 3) se detectó la existencia de algunos estudios descriptivos y con atención especial en la innovación de manera general, pero la intención del presente trabajo va mucho más allá de los trabajos meramente prescriptivos, pretende demostrar mediante técnicas cuantitativas las singularidades de dichas capacidades en el sector salud (AU)

Effect and mechanism of LW-AFC on chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced mood and cognition impairment of mice / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect and mechanisms of LW-AFC,a new formula derived from Liuwei Dihuang decoction,on chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)-induced mood and cogni-tion impairment in mice. METHODS C57BL/6J mice were randomly placed into seven groups (n=10):normal control group,CUMS group,Fluoxetine(10 mg·kg-1,once per day)group,Liuwei Dihuang de-coction group(LW,10 g·kg-1,once per day),and LW-AFC(0.8 g·kg-1,1.6 g·kg-1,3.2 g·kg-1,once per day) group. The stressed group was given CUMS for 4 weeks to set up a chronic multiple-stressed model.LW and LW-AFC was oral administered a week prior to CUMS and until the end of the study(a total of 35 d),while fluoxetine was administrated orally for 4 weeks.The anxiety behavior was analyzed using the open field test(OFT)and elevated plus maze test(EPM).The depression behavior was ana-lyzed using the sucrose preference test (SPT) and forced swimming test (FST). Spatial cognition was evaluated using Morris water maze (MWM) test and working memory was evaluated using new object recognition test(NORT). RESULTS CUMS for 28 d increased depressive-and anxiety-like behaviors. LW-AFC (1.6 g·kg-1) significantly increased the numbers of entries into the open arm and time in the open arm of CUMS mice (P<0.05). LW-AFC (3.2 g·kg-1) increased sucrose consumption and de-creased the immobility time of FST (P<0.01) of CUMS mice. The MWM test showed that spatial learning andmemory in CUMS mice were remarkably affected relative to controls,whereas LW-AFC(3.2 g·kg-1)im-proves cognitive functions(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The mood and theability of learning and memory of thestressed group can be affected after exposure to CUS.Oral administration of LW-AFC significant-ly improved CUMS-induced impairments of mood and cognition in mice.

Neuroprotective effect of Liu Wei Di Huang Tang on adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mice / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect and mechanisms of LW-AFC,a new formula derived from Liu Wei Di Huang Tang,on irradiation-induced reduction of mice adult hippocampal neurogenesis. METHODS C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into seven groups (n=10): control group, LW-AFC group (1.6 g·kg-1), Liu Wei Di Huang Tang (LW) group (10 g·kg-1), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) group, irradiation group, irradiation+LW group, and irradiation+LW-AFC group. Reduction of mice adult hippocampal neurogenesis was induced by cranial irradiation.LW-AFC was administered by oral gavage for 30 d after cranial irradiation treatment. Immunofluorescence and Nissl′s staining were performed for histological morphology assessment. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) staining was used in the detection of proliferation cells. The peripheral blood and hippocampal homogenate were collected to measure the content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (INF-γ), interleukin-1β (IL-1β),IL-4 and IL-10.The hippocampal homogenate was used for Western blot to detect the BDNF-TrkB signal pathway, including extracellular regulated protein kinases1/2 (ERK1/2) and BDNF target protein. Morris water maze and new object recognition test were performed to examine the cognitive function of mice.The mice forced swimming and tail suspension test were used to assess alteration in depressive behavior. Long term potentiation was used to examine the synaptic plasticity change of mice. RESULTS Adult hippocampal neurogenesis was significantly reduced after irradiation of 20 Gray dose (10 Gray per day, total 2 d). LW-AFC treatment increased the BrdU number of irradiated mice (P<0.05). In Morris water maze test, LW-AFC group showed decreased escape latency in the learning period (P<0.05), while increased the number of crossing the platform in the memory period. LW-AFC can also reduce the immobility time of mice in the tail suspension test (P<0.01). CONCLU-SION LW-AFC modulates adult neurogenesis to ameliorate cognitive impairment and reduce depres-sive behavior in radiation injury mice.

LW-AFC,a new formula derived from Liuwei Dihuang decoction,ameliorates behavioral and pathological deterioration via modulating the neuroendocrine-immune system in Alzheimer disease mouse models / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Alzheimer disease(AD),the most common cause of dementia among older people, could not be prevented, halted, or reversed up till now. A large body of pharmacological study has revealed that Liuwei Dihuang (LW) possesses potential therapeutic effects on AD. LW-AFC is key fractions from LW.In the present study,we investigated the effect of LW-AFC on AD mouse models. METHODS PrP-hAβPPswe/PS1ΔE9(APP/PS1) mice and senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 strain (SAMP8), classic AD animal models, were employed. After the treatment of LW-AFC, mice were cognitively evaluated in behavioral experiments. Neuron loss, amyloid-β (Αβ) deposition, and Αβ level were analyzed using Nissl staining, immunofluorescence, and an AlphaLISA assay, respectively. Multiplex bead analysis, a radioimmunoassay, immunochemiluminometry, and an ELISA were used to measure cytokine and hormone levels.Lymphocyte subsets were detected using fl ow cytometry. RESULTS LW-AFC ameliorated the cognitive impairment observed in APP/PS1and SAMP8 mice,including the impairment of object recognition memory,spatial learning and memory,and active and passive avoidance. In addition, LW-AFC alleviated the neuron loss in the hippocampus, suppressed amyloid-β(Αβ)deposition in the brain,and reduced the concentration of Aβ1-42in the hippo-campus and plasma of APP/PS1 mice. LW-AFC treatment also significantly restored the imbalance of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes,corrected the disorder of lymphocyte subsets,and regulated the abnormal production of cytokine in APP/PS1 and SAMP8 mice. Effects of LW-AFC on pharmacodynamics and neuroendocrine immunomodulation network in APP/PS1 and SAMP8 mice were better than meman-tine and donepezil. CONCLUSION LW-AFC ameliorated the behavioral and pathological deterioration of AD mouse models via the restoration of the NIM network, which supports the use of LW-AFC as a potential agent for AD therapy.

Effects of LW-AFC, a new formula derived from Liuwei Dihuang decoction, on intestinal microbiome in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 strain, a mouse model of Alzheimer disease / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of LW-AFC, a new formula derived from Liuwei Dihuang decoction, on gut microbiota and the behavior of learning and memory of SAMP8 mice, a mouse model of Alzheimer Disease (AD), and identify the specific intestinal microbiota correlating with cognitive ability. METHODS Morris-water maze test, novel object recognition test and shuttle-box test were conducted to observe the ability of learning and memory. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) was employed to investigate gut microbiota. RESULTS The treatment of LW- AFC improved cognitive impairments of SAMP8 mice, including spatial learning and memory ability, active avoidance response, and object recognition memory capability. Our data indicated that there were significantly 8 increased and 12 decreased operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the gut microbiota of SAMP8 mice compared with senescence accelerated mouse resistant 1 (SAMR1) strains, the control of SAMP8 mice. The treatment of LW- AFC altered 22 (16 increased and 6 decreased) OTUs in SAMP8 mice and among them, 15 OTUs could be reversed by LW-AFC treatment resulting in a microbial composition similar to that of SAMR1 mice. We further showed that there were 7 (3 negative and 4 positive correlation) OTUs significantly correlated with all the three types of cognitive abilities, at the order level, including Bacteroidales, Clostridiales, Desulfovibrionales, CW040, and two unclassified orders. LW-AFC had influences on bacterial taxa correlated with the abilities of learning and memory in SAMP8 mice and restored them to SAMR1 mice. CONCLUSION The effects of LW-AFC on improving cognitive impairments of SAMP8 mice might be via modulating intestinal microbiome and LW-AFC could be used as a potential anti-AD agent.

LW-AFC and its active components ameliorate corticosterone-induced long-term potentiation impairment in mice / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE LW- AFC is extracted from the classical traditional Chinese medicinal prescription-Liuwei Dihuang Decoction. Previous studies have showed that LW-AFC could improve learning & memory ability in amny animal models. In this study, we focused on evaluating the effect of several main active components from LW-AFC (B-B; loganin, LOG; morroniside, MOR; paeoniflorin, PF and stachyose, STA) on LTP. METHODS In vivo recording of LTP was used in this study to evaluate the effects of LW-AFC and it's active components on coticorsterone (Cort) induced LTP impairment. RESULTS The results showed that LW-AFC could ameliorate Cort-induced LTP impairment. The effect of LW-AFC was abolished when the immune function was inhibited. Single administration (ig, ip, icv) of any of the components had no effect on Cort-induced LTP impairment. Consecutively intragastric admin?istration or intraperitoneal injections (chronic administration) of B-B, LOG, MOR or PF for 7 d showed protective effect on Cort-induced LTP impairment. Intragastric administration of STA for 7 d protected LTP from impairment induced by Cort, while there was little improving effect when STA was administrated via intraperitoneal injection. In addition, when the intestinal microbiota was disrupted by applying the antibiotic cocktail, STA showed little protective effect against Cort. CONCLUSION In conclusion, LW-AFC and it' s components showed positive effects against cort induced LTP impairment, it seems that all displayed protective effects via indirectly, immune modulation might be the common pathway for all components; the exact pathways are different in each component, B-B, LOG, MOR and PF could be absorbed into the bloods tream and then modulate the peripheral immune function, while STA could not be absorbed and modulates the immune function via modulating intestinal microbiota. Further studies are needed to invesgate the underlying mechanisms and the synergetic effects of all components.

LW-AFC, a new formula derived from Liuwei Dihuang decoction, ameliorates behavioral and pathological deterioration via modulating the neuroendocrine-immune abnormalities in PrP-hAβPPswe/PS1ΔE9 transgenic mice / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of LW- AFC, a new formula of the main active components extracted from Liuwei Dihuang decoction, on treatment of Alzheimer disease (AD) in mouse models. METHODS After treatment LW- AFC, mice were cognitively evaluated in behavioral experiments. Neuron loss, amyloid-β(Αβ) deposition, and Αβ level were analyzed using Nissl staining, immunofluorescence, and an AlphaLISA assay, respectively. Multiplex bead analysis, a radioimmunoassay, immunochemiluminometry, and an ELISA were used to measure cytokine and hormone levels. Lymphocyte subsets were detected using flow cytometry. RESULTS LW-AFC ameliorated the cognitive impairment observed in APP/PS1 mice, including the impairment of object recognition memory, spatial learning and memory, and active and passive avoidance. In addition, LW-AFC alleviated the neuron loss in the hippocampus, suppressed Αβ deposition in the brain, and reduced the concentration of Aβ1- 42 in the hippocampus and plasma of APP/PS1 mice. LW-AFC treatment also significantly decreased the secretion of corticotropin-releasing hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the hypothalamus, and adrenocorticotropic hormone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle- stimulating hormone in the pituitary. Moreover, LW-AFC increased CD8+CD28+T cells, and reduced CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells in the spleen lymphocytes, down- regulated interleukin(IL)- 1β, IL- 2, IL- 6, IL- 23, granulocyte- macrophage colony stimulating factor, and tumor necrosis factor-α and -β, and up-regulated IL-4 and granulocyte colony stimulating factor in the plasma of APP/PS1 mice. CONCLUSION LW-AFC ameliorated the behavioral and pathological deterioration of APP/PS1 transgenic micevia the restoration of the NIM network to a greater extent than either memantineor donepezil, which supports the use of LW-AFC as a potential agent for AD therapy.

Inventario de Conductas Infantiles en preescolares: propiedades psicométricas del Inventario de Conductas Infantiles (CBCL/1. 5-5) y del informe del cuidador/educador (C-TRF) en preescolares chilenos / Psychometric properties of the Child Behavior Checklist and the caregiver /teacher report form in Chilean preschoolers

El Inventario de Conductas Infantiles 1.5-5 años (CBCL/1.5-5 por su acrónimo en inglés) y el informe del cuidador/educador (C-TRF por su acrónimo en inglés), son de los instrumentos más ampliamente reconocidos internacionalmente para evaluar conductas desadaptativas que pueden afectan el desarrollo presente y futuro de niños y niñas preescolares. Se evaluó el comportamiento psicométrico de ambos instrumentos en una muestra diversa socioeconómicamente de 550 preescolares chilenos. En general, ambos mostraron un comportamiento psicométrico análogo al obtenido con estudios en otras sociedades. Los análisis factoriales confirmatorios mostraron un ajuste adecuado del modelo bifactorial original. Sin embargo, en el CBCL/1.5-5 los puntajes obtenidos son más altos que en la mayoría de los países y, comparativamente, en ambos instrumentos, se observó un mayor efecto de género. Se analizan los hallazgos obtenidos, y se dan sugerencias normativas y conceptuales para el empleo de ambos instrumentos en niños y niñas preescolares en nuestro país.

The child Behavior checklist/1.5-5 and the caregiver/teacher report Form are one of the most widely internationally recognized instruments to evaluate desadaptative behaviors which may affect the current and future development of preschool children. The psychometric behavior of both instruments was evaluated in a socioeconomically diverse sample of 550 chilean preschool children. In general, it was observed an analog behavior of both compared to the one obtained with studies in other societies. The confirmatory factor analysis showed a suitable adjustment of the original bifactor model. However, in the CBCL, the scores obtained are higher than in most of the countries and, comparatively, in both instruments, a greater effect of gender was observed. The findings obtained are analyzed and, normative and conceptual suggestions are given for the use of both instruments in preschool children in our country.

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the portuguese version of the Aspiration Index (AI) / Adaptação transcultural e propriedades psicométricas da versão em português do Índice de Aspirações (IA) / Adaptación transcultural y propiedades psicométricas de la versión en portugués del Índice de Aspiraciones (IA)

The aim of this study was to develop a cross-cultural adaptation version and to make a psychometric evaluation of the Aspiration Index (AI) for the Brazilian context. This instrument assesses the importance that individuals put in their life goals. Participants consisted of 971 Brazilian youth aged from 18 to 30 years old (Mage= 22.8; SD=3.4). The cultural adaptation showed that it was appropriated both at a cultural and linguistic level. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) demonstrated the adequacy of the original 11-factor model for the Brazilian context, and the multi-group CFA showed that this structure was invariant across different socio-economic groups. Furthermore, the multidimensional scaling modeling (MDS) replicated the results earlier studies, positing a two-dimension structure as representation of the data. With one dimension underlying the intrinsic (e.g., self-acceptance, affiliation) versus extrinsic goals (e.g., financial success, image); and the second dimension defined by the self-transcendent (e.g., spirituality) and the physical goals (e.g. health). These results suggest that the AI is a reliable measure to assess different types of life goals and can be used with the Brazilian population from different regions and socioeconomic levels.

O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver uma adaptação transcultural e uma avaliação psicométrica do Índice de Aspirações (IA) para o contexto brasileiro. Este instrumento avalia a importância que os indivíduos dão para diferentes metas na vida. Participaram 971 jovens brasileiros de 18 a 30 anos de idade (Mage= 22,8; DP=3,4). A adaptação transcultural demonstrou que o instrumento era adequado a nível linguístico e cultural. A análise fatorial confirmatória (AFC) mostrou a adequação do modelo original de 11 fatores para o contexto brasileiro, e a AFC multigrupo mostrou que esta estrutura permaneceu invariante para grupos de diferentes níveis socioeconômicos. Além disso, a análise de escalonamento multidimensional (MDS) replicou a estrutura bidimensional como uma representação gráfica dos dados. Com uma dimensão que subjaz às metas intrínsecas (i.e. autoaceitação, afiliação) versus as extrínsecas (i.e. sucesso financeiro, imagem), e a segunda dimensão definida por metas de autotrascendência (i.e. espiritualidade) versus metas físicas (i.e. saúde). Os resultados sugerem que o IA é um instrumento confiável para avaliar diferentes tipos de metas e que pode ser usado com a população brasileira de diferentes regiões e níveis socioeconômicos.

El objetivo de este estudio fue desarrollar una adaptación transcultural y una evaluación psicométrica del Índice de Aspiraciones (AI) para el contexto brasileño. Este instrumento evalúa la importancia que los individuos dan a diferentes metas de vida. Participaron 971 jóvenes brasileños con edades entre 18 e 30 años (Mage= 22.8; SD=3.4). La adaptación transcultural demostró que el instrumento era apropiado a nivel lingüístico y cultural. El análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) demostró la idoneidad del modelo original de 11 factores al contexto brasileño, y el AFC multigrupo demostró que esta estructura se mantuvo invariante para los distintos grupos socioeconómicos. Además, el análisis de escalonamiento multidimensional (MDS) replicó los resultados de estudios anteriores, postulando una estructura de dos dimensiones como representación gráfica de los datos. Con una dimensión que subyace a las metas intrínsecas (i.e., auto-aceptación, afiliación) y las metas extrínsecas (i.e., éxito financiero, imagen); y la segunda dimensión definida por metas de auto-trascendencia (i.e., espiritualidad) y metas físicas (i.e., salud). Por lo tanto, los resultados sugieren que el AI es una medida fiable para evaluar diferentes tipos de metas y se puede utilizar con la población brasileña de diferentes regiones y niveles socioeconómicos.

Separation and identification of flavonoid constituent in Humulus Scandens and their effects on alveolar fluid clearance in mice / 中国药理学通报

Aims To extract,separate and identify the flavonoid constituents in Humulus Scandens and to ex-plore the relationship of monomers and alveolar fluid clearance (AFC)in mice in vivo.Methods Humulus scandens were extracted with alcohol and then isolated by the technology of Column and the structures were i-dentified by spectrometry.In vivo AFC was measured using bovine serum albumin protein assays affected by luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (LGL ) and cosmsiin (AGL).Results The main constituents of flavanones in Humulus scandens were LGL and AGL.Both of them could improve the AFC.Conclusion The AFCs of LGL and AGL,compared to the blank control group, increased which explains the effect of flavonoid constit-uents on removing edema and promoting water absorp-tion.

Japan's national tuberculosis control strategies with economic considerations

We made a bibliographic search for Japanese and non-Japanese literature on tuberculosis control programs to study the current public health policies for tuberculosis control in Japan especially in regard to cost-effectiveness. Then, we compared the Japanese, strategies for tuberculosis control with those in other countries including the United States, and those recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). The current trend of tuberculosis incidence in the Japanese community demonstrates major differences from the situation that had prompted installation of tuberculosis control measures several decades ago. The tuberculosis control measures should be targeted to the elderly people (over 65 years old) because of the following three aspects. (1) A continuing decline of tuberculosis in the young Japanese population, particularly children who might attain benefits from BCG immunization; (2) The enhancement of the prevalence among the elderly people who are not covered by a uniform national surveillance strategy; (3) Cost-ineffectiveness of Mass Miniature Radiography (MMR) being used as a means to screen for tuberculosis. The cost-effectiveness issue must be considered more seriously, and the WHO recommendations especially in regard with the DOTS (directly-observed treatment, short course) strategy need to be incorporated more effectively into the national program since the incidence of drug resistant tuberculosis in Japan has been recently increasing. Finally, we propose to limit BCG immunization further and to discontinue annual MMR in the young population, and instead to develop effective strategies of both active and passive case finding in the elderly through public and community health services.

Japan\rqs National Tuberculosis Control Strategies with Economic Considerations

We made a bibliographic search for Japanese and non-Japanese literature on tuberculosis control programs to study the current public health policies for tuberculosis control in Japan especially in regard to cost-effectiveness. Then, we compared the Japanese strategies for tuberculosis control with those in other countries including the United States, and those recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). The current trend of tuberculosis incidence in the Japanese community demonstrates major differences from the situation that had prompted installation of tuberculosis control measures several decades ago. The tuberculosis control measures should be targeted to the elderly people (over 65 years old) because of the following three aspects. (1) A continuing decline of tuberculosis in the young Japanese population, particularly children who might attain benefits from BCG immunization; (2) The enhancement of the prevalence among the elderly people who are not covered by a uniform national surveillance strategy; (3) Cost-ineffectiveness of Mass Miniature Radiography (MMR) being used as a means to screen for tuberculosis. The cost-effectiveness issue must be considered more seriously, and the WHO recommendations especially in regard with the DOTS (directly-observed treatment, short course) strategy need to be incorporated more effectively into the national program since the incidence of drug resistant tuberculosis in Japan has been recently increasing. Finally, we propose to limit BCG immunization further and to discontinue annual MMR in the young population, and instead to develop effective strategies of both active and passive case finding in the elderly through public and community health services.

Partial purification of protein farnesyl cysteine carboxyl methyltransferase from bovine brain

C-terminal farnesyl cysteine carboxyl methylation has been known to be the last step in the post-translational modification processes of several important signal transduction proteins in eukaryotes including ras related GTP binding proteins and the gamma-subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins. Protein farnesyl cysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (PFCCMT; EC, 2.1.1.100) catalyzing the reaction is well characterized as being stimulated by guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) and suppressed by N-acetyl-S-farnesyl-L-cysteine (AFC). As an initial step to understand the physiological significance of the process, we attempted to purify the enzyme, which was partially purified 130-fold (specific activity, 143 pmol of methyl group transferred/min/mg of protein) with yield of 1.8% after purification by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) on a Superdex 75 column. The enzyme was further purified with non denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (ND-PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The molecular weight of PFCCMT was determined to be about 30 kDa based on Superdex 75 FPLC as well as photoaffinity labelling with S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-3H] methionine ([methyl-3H]SAM). The partially purified enzyme (Superdex 75 eluate) was found to be characteristically affected by GTP gamma S, being activated about 40-fold in 2 mM, in contrast to ATP which did not show any effect on enzyme activity. Meanwhile, the enzyme was found to be markedly inhibited by AFC, reaching 0 activity in 2 mM. These observations strongly suggested that the partially purified enzyme was PFCCMT.

INFLUENCES OF EM ON SPECIFIC IMMUNE RESPONSE IN NORMAL MICE / 中国免疫学杂志

Euonymusmupinensis Loes et Rhed(EM),an antitumor agent,was studied forits influences on spleen AFC,IRFC and spleen cell transformation in normalSwiss mice.It was found that the agent was able to elevate spleen AFC inresponse to SRBC and increase the number of IRFC at the 5th day afterbeing immunized with 5%SRBC 0.2ml i?p?There was a statistical differencebetween the tested group and the group of control. The antitumor effects of EM was considered to be probably taken by sti-mulating the immune system of mice.