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Ou Guang-An agrees with the artistic characteristics of Lu Xun as Jasper sees them and emphasises Lu Xun's depiction of the defects of national character, a well-established but somehow obsolete perspective. Chapters 7 and 8 are Jasper's understanding of Sino-Christian theology and Ou Guang-An's response to Jasper, respectively. Jasper underscores with great insight Lu Xun's irony, his ambivalent connection with traditional Chinese culture which he openly debunks, and points out that Mao's valorisation of Lu Xun compromises Lu Xun's artistic achievements and profound ambiguity. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Risk factors for temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain remain unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to identify risk factors for TMD pain using a biopsychosocial model and to investigate interactions between potential risk factors—oral behaviours (OBs), psychological factors and sleep quality—and their direct and indirect effects on TMD pain. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional study of 488 patients with TMDs (422 women; 30.8 ± 9.4 years). Pain was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale. Demographic, behavioural, psychological and biomedical data were collected through clinical examination, face‐to‐face interviews and questionnaires. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with TMD pain. Mediation and moderation analysis were used to evaluate interactions between variables. Significant mediation ('0' not included in the 95% confidence interval (CI)) and moderation (p <.05) effects on TMD pain were identified. Results: Marital status, diagnosis subgroup, previous medication use, depression and sleep quality were significant risk factors for TMD pain (p <.05). Significant mediation effects were observed as follows: depression and sleep quality mediated the association between OBs and pain; sleep quality mediated the association between somatization, depression, anxiety and pain; and depression mediated the association between sleep quality and pain (all 95% CI did not contain '0'). Conclusions: (1) Marital status, diagnosis subgroup, previous medication use, depression and sleep quality were associated with TMD pain. (2) OBs can exacerbate pain by promoting depression and reducing sleep quality. Psychological factors and sleep quality can interact to exacerbate pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the transmission effects of fiscal and credit policies on investment by renewable energy enterprises using a generalized method of moments model applied to enterprise-level panel data. Our empirical results demonstrate that subsidies and taxation rebates received from central and local governments have significantly positive impacts on renewable energy enterprises' investment efficiency. Short-run, long-run, and total credit loans obtained from financial institutions have significantly positive impacts on renewable energy enterprises' investment. Subsidies and credit loans and taxation rebates and credit loans represent significantly positive interactions on renewable energy enterprises' investment. Variations in subsidies, taxation rebates, and credit loans induce interactions to become more sensitive. Overall, the results demonstrate that fiscal and credit policies are able to effectively incentivize renewable energy enterprises to invest in more profitable renewable energy projects and then enhance investments in tangible assets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate lymph node staging is important for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with bladder cancer. We aimed to develop a lymph node metastases diagnostic model (LNMDM) on whole slide images and to assess the clinical effect of an artificial intelligence-assisted (AI) workflow. In this retrospective, multicentre, diagnostic study in China, we included consecutive patients with bladder cancer who had radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection, and from whom whole slide images of lymph node sections were available, for model development. We excluded patients with non-bladder cancer and concurrent surgery, or low-quality images. Patients from two hospitals (Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China) were assigned before a cutoff date to a training set and after the date to internal validation sets for each hospital. Patients from three other hospitals (the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China) were included as external validation sets. A validation subset of challenging cases from the five validation sets was used to compare performance between the LNMDM and pathologists, and two other datasets (breast cancer from the CAMELYON16 dataset and prostate cancer from the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University) were collected for a multi-cancer test. The primary endpoint was diagnostic sensitivity in the four prespecified groups (ie, the five validation sets, a single-lymph-node test set, the multi-cancer test set, and the subset for a performance comparison between the LNMDM and pathologists). Between Jan 1, 2013 and Dec 31, 2021, 1012 patients with bladder cancer had radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection and were included (8177 images and 20 954 lymph nodes). We excluded 14 patients (165 images) with concurrent non-bladder cancer and also excluded 21 low-quality images. We included 998 patients and 7991 images (881 [88%] men; 117 [12%] women; median age 64 years [IQR 56–72]; ethnicity data not available; 268 [27%] with lymph node metastases) to develop the LNMDM. The area under the curve (AUC) for accurate diagnosis of the LNMDM ranged from 0·978 (95% CI 0·960–0·996) to 0·998 (0·996–1·000) in the five validation sets. Performance comparisons between the LNMDM and pathologists showed that the diagnostic sensitivity of the model (0·983 [95% CI 0·941–0·998]) substantially exceeded that of both junior pathologists (0·906 [0·871–0·934]) and senior pathologists (0·947 [0·919–0·968]), and that AI assistance improved sensitivity for both junior (from 0·906 without AI to 0·953 with AI) and senior (from 0·947 to 0·986) pathologists. In the multi-cancer test, the LNMDM maintained an AUC of 0·943 (95% CI 0·918–0·969) in breast cancer images and 0·922 (0·884–0·960) in prostate cancer images. In 13 patients, the LNMDM detected tumour micrometastases that had been missed by pathologists who had previously classified these patients' results as negative. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the LNMDM would enable pathologists to exclude 80–92% of negative slides while maintaining 100% sensitivity in clinical application. We developed an AI-based diagnostic model that did well in detecting lymph node metastases, particularly micrometastases. The LNMDM showed substantial potential for clinical applications in improving the accuracy and efficiency of pathologists' work. National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, the National Key Research and Development Programme of China, and the Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Centre for Urological Diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Cichorium glandulosum Boiss. et Huet was used historically in Uyghur folk medicine. Its roots, seeds, and aerial parts are extensively used by Uyghur residents in Xinjiang to eliminate savda typhoid, dredge and cure obstructive jaundice variety liver disorders. Aim of the study To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of total flavonoids (TFs) obtained from C. glandulosum seeds against carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced liver damage in vitro and in vivo . To investigate the mechanisms of hepatoprotective effects for TFs. Materials and methods The dried seeds of C. glandulosum were extracted with 70% aqueous ethanol, and the extract was chromatographed with D101 macroporous resin. In vitro the antioxidant capacity against lipid peroxidation (LPO) was evaluated using ferrothiocyanate, thiobarbituric acid, β-carotene bleaching, and LPO inhibition assay. The cytotoxicity and hepatoprotective activity of TFs were evaluated in human liver hepatoma cells (HepG2). MTT assay, hepatic injury markers aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) were performed. In vivo the hepatoprotective activity of TFs against CCl 4 -induced acute liver injury was evaluated in rats. A series of biochemical and antioxidant parameter levels were measured in liver homogenate. The suppressive effect on pancreatic lipase activity was determined. Results Results indicated that TFs showed antioxidant capacity against lipid peroxidation (LPO). Administrating CCl 4 (1%, v/v) caused a significant decrease in HepG2 viability. Treatment with TFs at doses (62.5, 125, and 250 μg/ml) could significantly ameliorate the cytotoxicity and decline the levels of AST, ALT, and LDH induced by CCl 4 . The markers including MDA and GSH, which were close to oxidative damage, were restored. Oral treatment with TFs in vivo at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg significantly reduced the levels of AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) in the serum compared with CCl 4 -induced acute liver injury in rats. TFs showed dose-dependent suppressive effects on pancreatic lipase activity, and the IC 50 was 1.318±0.164 mg/ml. Conclusion TFs from C. glandulosum seeds demonstrated significant hepatoprotection against CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity. TFs exhibited significant suppression of LPO and pancreatic lipase capacity, which may be the mechanisms of hepatoprotective effects against CCl 4 . Our results contribute towards validation of the traditional use of C. glandulosum seeds in the treatment of liver disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To compare the effectiveness of intraoperative cell salvage (IOCS) combined with a modified leucocyte depletion filter (MLDF) with IOCS combined with a regular leucocyte depletion filter (RLDF) in eliminating tumour cells from blood salvage during metastatic spine tumour surgery (MSTS). Methods: Patients with a known primary epithelial tumour who underwent MSTS were recruited for this study. Blood samples were collected in 5 stages: from the patients' vein before anaesthesia induction (S1), from the operative field at the time of maximum tumour manipulation (S2), and from the operative blood after IOCS processing (S3) and after IOCS+RLDF (S4) and IOCS+MLDF (S5) processing. The polyploids of tumour cells in the blood samples were collected and counted with immunomagnetic separation enrichment and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Results: We recruited 20 patients. Tumour cells were detected in 14 patients (70%) in S1, 16 patients (80%) in S2, 13 patients (65%) in S3, and 12 patients (60%) in S4. MLDF was added in 8 patients. Tumour cells were detected in only 1 of 8 patients in S5 (12.5%). There were significantly fewer tumour cells in the samples collected after MLDF processing (S5) than in the samples collected after RLDF (S4) and around the tumour (S2) (P = 0.016 and P = 0.039, respectively). Although no significant difference was observed between S4 and S1, a downward trend was observed after IOCS+RLDF processing. Conclusions: Tumour cells could be removed by IOCS combined with RLDF from blood salvaged during MSTS, but residual tumour cells remained. The findings support the notion that MLDF eliminates tumour cells more effectively than RLDF. Hence, this technique can be applied to MSTS. Trial registration: ChiCTR1800016162 Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Female breast cancer incidence and mortality data for the duration of 2008, in China, retrieved from the National Central Cancer Registry, was analyzed. Methods In 2008, there were 56 registries that submitted cancer registration data. Based on the criteria of data quality, a total of 41 registries' data met the requirement and were accepted for analysis. The incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer in females were calculated, including age specific rates, age-standardized rates, proportions, and cumulative rates, stratified by areas (urban/rural). Results The number of cases included from 41 registries was 66 138 784, with 32 798 187 of these cases found in women (25 898 251 in urban areas and 6 899 936 in rural areas). There were 15 625 new cases reported and 3414 deaths of women with breast cancer, resulting in a mortality to incidence ratio of 0.22. The morphological verified rate was 91.96%, and 0.43% of cases were identified by death certificate only. The crude cancer incidence rate in all areas was 47.64/100 000, and the Age- Standardized Incidence Rates by Chinese standard population, ( ASIRC) and World standard population ( ASIRW) were 25.26/100 000 and 31.71/100 000, respectively. The cumulative incidence rate (0-74 years old) was 3.44%. Both crude and adjusted incidence rates in urban areas were much higher than those in rural areas. The crude cancer mortality was 10.41/100 000, and the Age- Standardized Mortality Rates by Chinese standard population ( ASMRC) and by World population ( ASMRW) were 4.90/100 000 and 6.48/100 000, respectively. The cumulative mortality rate (0-74 years old) was 0.071%. Age-adjusted mortality rates in urban areas were also higher than in rural areas. Age specific incidence rates peaked in age group 50-54 in all areas (108.27/100 000) and in urban areas (119.68/100 000). It reached the peak in the 55-59 age group for rural women. Age specific mortalities rose with the increase of age for both women in urban and rural areas, with mortality rates of 76.16/100 000 and 23.73/100 000 in age groups of 85 and above, respectively. Conclusions Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Chinese women. Preventative measures, such as health education and screening, are needed in the general population, but especially for those in the high-risk group found in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Parenting Stress Index–Short Form (PSI-SF) is a popular brief assessment of parenting stress. However, its latent structure and psychometric properties have not been extensively addressed, in particular in non-Western cultures. The present study is the first to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the PSI-SF in parents from Mainland China (683 mother–father dyads; mean age of mothers = 37.10 years, SD = 3.68; mean age of fathers = 39.81 years, SD = 4.13). Initial analyses revealed that previously proposed factor structure of the PSI-SF did not fit the data well. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were then conducted to develop a psychometrically sound and efficient abbreviated version of the PSI-SF. In this new version of 15 items (PSI-SF-15), there are three factors (i.e., parental distress, parent–child dysfunctional interaction, and difficult child). This abbreviated scale showed strict measurement invariance across sex of parent and satisfactory internal consistency. The convergent validity of the PSI-SF-15 were supported by its expected relations with the original PSF-SF measures, the multitrait–multimethod procedure, and its expected relations with scores on parenting behavior, parental depressiveness, and children's conduct problems. In conclusion, these results suggest that the PSI-SF-15 is a valid measure of parenting stress in Chinese parents, and that it holds promise as an informative and reliable alternative to the original PSI-SF when administration time is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) is becoming increasingly popular in China as it shortens wound-healing time and reduces scar formation. However, its exact mechanism in mediating the wound-healing process is not yet clear. In the present study a total of 90 healthy adult male Wistar rats of specific-pathogen-free grade were divided equally into a control group, wound group, MEBO group, recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (rb-bFGF) group and sham operation group. Wound healing was observed from the extracted granulation tissues and recorded at three time points on 3, 7 and 14 days. Different levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in tissue homogenate were detected using ELISA. Western blot analysis and quantitative PCR were used to detect the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), substance P (SP) as well as tyrosine kinase A (TrkA) receptor protein and the corresponding mRNA levels in granulation tissue. It was observed that the wound healing progressed faster in the MEBO and rb-bFGF groups compared with the wound group (P<0.01). TNF-α and IL-6 had an upward-downward trend at three time points, with the wound group demonstrating the most obvious increase (P<0.01). NGF and SP mRNA and protein levels in granulation tissue in MEBO, rb-bFGF and sham operation groups reached their highest levels on day 7 and then decreased on day 14. The expression level of TrkA was also measured simultaneously and its expression pattern was similar to that of NGF and SP. These results suggested that MEBO may promote nerve repair and accelerate wound healing through mediating the expression levels of NGF and SP, as well as TrkA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Population-based cancer registration data from the National Central Cancer Registry were used to analyze and evaluate the incidence and mortality rates in China in 2013, providing scientific information for cancer prevention and control. Methods Pooled data were stratified by area (urban/rural), gender, and age group. National new cases and deaths were estimated using age-specific rates and the corresponding population in 2013. The Chinese population in 2000 and Segi's world population were used to calculate age-standardized rates. Results The estimated number of new breast cancer cases was about 278 800 in China in 2013. The crude incidence, age-standardized rate of incidence by Chinese standard population, and age-standardized rate of incidence by world standard population were 42.02/100 000, 30.41/100 000, and 28.42/100 000, respectively. The estimated number of breast cancer deaths was about 64 600 in China in 2013. The crude mortality, age-standardized rate of mortality by Chinese standard population, and age-standardized rate of mortality by world standard population were 9.74/100 000, 6.54/100 000, and 6.34/100 000, respectively. Both incidence and mortality were higher in urban than in rural areas. Age-specific breast cancer incidence significantly increased with age, particularly after age 20, and peaked at 50-55 years, while age-specific mortality increased rapidly after 25 years, peaking at 85+ years. Conclusions Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Chinese women, especially women in urban areas. Comprehensive measures are needed to reduce the heavy burden of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is an extensively cultivated vegetable in eastern Asia, particularly in China. Both lotus rhizome knot (LRK) and lotus leaf (LL) are waste products of the lotus industry. Extracts from LRK and LL are proposed as antioxidants for meat. Porcine and bovine ground meat samples were subjected to three treatments: CONTROL (with no additives), LRK (lotus rhizomes knot extract 3% w/w), and LL (lotus leaf extract 3% w/w). Raw and cooked samples were stored at 4°C and the antioxidant activity was determined at 1, 3, 6 and 10days. Antioxidant activity was significantly increased in all meat samples with the addition of both LRK and LL, but LRK was more effective against lipid oxidation. The results show the potential for using LRK and LL extracts in the meat industry to prolong shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halenia elliptica, a medicinal herb of Tibetan origin, was commonly used in folk medicine to treat hepatitis. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of Halenia elliptica against experimentally induced liver injury. Materials and methods: The antioxidant property of methanolic extract (ME) of Halenia elliptica was investigated by employing various established in vitro systems. The ME of Halenia elliptica was studied here for its hepatoprotective effects against CCl4-induced liver toxicity in rats. Activity was measured by monitoring the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin. Results: The ME possessed strong antioxidant activity in vitro. The results of CCl4-induced liver toxicity experiment showed that rats treated with the ME of Halenia elliptica (100mg/kg and 200mg/kg), and also the standard treatment, silymarin (50mg/kg), showed a significant decrease in ALT, AST, ALP, and total bilirubin levels, which were all elevated in the CCl4 group (p <0.01). The results observed after administration of 100mg/kg ME were comparable to those of silymarin at 50mg/kg (p >0.05). The ME did not show any mortality at doses up to 2000g/kg body weight. Conclusion: These results seem to support the traditional use of Halenia elliptica in pathologies involving hepatotoxicity, and the possible mechanism of this activity may be due to strong free radical-scavenging and antioxidant activities of ME. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]