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This paper argues that “the fear of having two sons” is a gender structure phenomenon that causes anxiety for some Chinese families. To prove the existence of such a fear in some families, this paper considers three aspects: the ideal gender structure of children, women’s childbearing plan for second children and their actual childbearing behavior. Data for nine provinces is taken from the China Fertility Survey of 2017. This paper finds that: (1) except for having no children, 2 sons and 0 daughters is the most undesired gender structure; (2) among those who expect 1 son and 1 daughter, women whose first child is a son are less likely to plan to have a second child than those whose first child is a daughter; (3) among those who expect 1 son and 1 daughter, women with a son as the first child are less likely to have a second child than those with a daughter. These findings prove that, at present, the phenomenon of the fear of having two sons does exist in some Chinese families. Finally, this paper summarizes how the attitudes of Chinese families towards having sons have changed since the 1950s from “a hope for having many sons” to “a desire for at least one son” and finally to “the fear of having two sons.” The paper also discusses the significance of the fear of having two sons phenomenon in terms of improving the proximate determinants of low fertility model.

Objective The objective of this study was to verify the lipid-lowering effect of Juhe Fang extract (JHFE) and to determine its characteristic chemical profile in vitro and in vivo. Methods A hyperlipidemia model was established by feeding mice a high-fat diet (HFD). After treatment for 30 days, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were measured with an automatic biochemistry analyzer. The components from JHFE obtained from in vivo and in vitro experiments were investigated using an UPLC-Q Exactive-Orbitrap MS/MS. Results The TC, TG, and LDL-C in the serum significantly decreased and the HDL-C significantly increased after JHFE treatment. A total of 95 compounds from JHEF including 15 phenolic acids (PA), 4 phenylethanoid glycosides (PG), 24 flavonoids (F), 14 triterpenoids (T), 10 diterpenoid glycosides (D), 18 alkaloids (A) and 10 others (O) were identified. Trigonelline was discovered for the first time in a herbal medicine of Juhe Fang. Furthermore, 68 compounds were identified in vivo including 28 prototype compounds and 40 metabolites. The metabolic characteristics of these components were revealed including identification of new metabolites of 4-hydroxyphenyl ethyl-8-O-[α-L- arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 6)]-β-D-glucopyranoside (PEG) and lirinidine. A total of 43 components from JHFE were absorbed and/or metabolized. The contribution rate of each type of chemical component from JHFE to its lipid-lowering effect from high to low were A, F, PG, PA, D and T. Conclusion The results of this study showed that JHFE demonstrated a significant lipid-lowering effect in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemia mouse model. Specific types of PA, PG, F, D, T and A formed the pharmaceutical architecture of the lipid-lowering effect of JHFE. This study should prove useful for clarifying the components responsible for the lipid-lowering effect of JHFE and provide a basis for precision quality control research.

Oxysophocarpine (OSC) has been documented for anti-inflammatory activity. However, the mechanisms of OSC in anti-inflammation are unclear. Aim: To investigate the protective effects of OSC on inflammation and apoptosis induced by lipopolysaccharide in NCI-H292 and human primary airway epithelial cells. Materials & methods: MTT and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining were used to detect cells viability. Inflammatory responses were determined by ELISA. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot were used to detect mRNA/miRNA and protein expressions respectively. Co-immunoprecipitation was investigated for protein interactions. Results & conclusion: miR-155 mimics significantly induced cell apoptosis, inflammatory responses and MAPK and NF-κB pathways. NDFIP1 was identified as the target of miR-155. OSC protected cells against apoptosis and inflammatory responses and compromised miR-155 activity by attenuating MAPK and NF-κB pathways.

A flow-injection procedure for the determination of paraoxon as an example of organophosphorus pesticides based on inhibition of acetylcholinesterase immobilized on the polymer carrier VA Epoxy Biosynth was studied. The detection was carried out spectrophotometrically by means of enzymatic hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine iodide and reaction of the thiocholine from the enzymatic reaction with 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). Under optimal conditions for an inhibition time of 30 min the calibration graph was linear from 0.05 to 0.5 μg l −1 ( r = 0.998, n = 5) with a relative standard deviation of 4.1% at 0.1 μg l −1 . For an inhibition time of 3 min the calibration graph was linear from 2 to 20 μg l −1 with relative standard deviation ( n = 3) of 1.2% at 5 μg l −1 . The inhibited enzyme was reactivated by 0.01 mol l −1 2-pyridinealdoxime methiodide. The recoveries from the samples to which paraoxon had been added (water, soil) were 104% and 94%, respectively.

Three phenylpropenoyl sucroses – sibiricose A5 (1), A6 (2) and 3′,6-disinapoyl sucrose (3) – were isolated from the 30% EtOH extract of Polygala tenuifolia, which displayed antidepressant-like action. HPLC analysis indicated that the three phenylpropenoyl sucroses could be absorbed into serum. From the serum pharmacochemistry point of view, these three phenylpropenoyl sucroses might prevent or relieve depression.

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of Huanglian Jiedu Tang active fraction (HIJDTAF) on calcium overloading in neurons. Method Cerebral ischemia was imitated by hypoxia/hypoglycemia damage on fetal rat neurons. Double wavelength fluorospectrophotometry was used to assay the content of calcium in neurons in order to evaluate the effect of HLJDTAF on calcium overloading. Neurons were treated with glutamic acid, potassium chloride (KCl), A23187, caffeine(CAF) and methacholine (Mch) to analysis the related mechanism of HLJDTAF on calcium overloading in neurons. Result HLJDTAF 0.3, 0.15 g x k(-1) could remarkably inhibit the calcium overloading in neurons caused by hypoxia/hypoglycemia, glutamic acid, KCl and A23187. HLJDTAF 0.3 g x kg(-1) could inhibit the increasing of calcium caused by CAF and Mch in the presence of and in the absence of extra-calcium. Conclusion HLJDTAF could remarkably inhibit the calcium overloading in neurons after cerebral ischemia injury, it probably plays the function via several pathways.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on the glucose uptake rate and gene expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in diaphragm of diabetic rats. METHOD Forty SD male rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=10) and model group (n=30). Diabetic models were induced by feeding with high-sucrose-high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injecting 25 mg X kg(-1) streptozotocin. 20 successful models were rearranged to two groups: diabetic group and GbE treatment group, 10 rats in each. Then the saline and 8 mg X kg(-1) x d(-1) of GbE were respectively intraperitoneal injected, once a day continuously for 8 weeks. The contents of fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS) were detected, respectively. The glucose uptake rate and gene expression of GLUT4 in diaphragm were determinated and the varieties of diaphragm ultrastructure were observed. RESULT Compared with control group, levels of FBG and FINS obviously increased in diabetic rats (P < 0.01), but the glucose uptake rate and expression of GLUT4 mRNA in diaphragm decreased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The ultrastructure in diabetic group under electron microscope indicated that diaphragm mitochondrion swelled and degenerated. The above changes were inhibited by GbE. CONCLUSION GbE can improve the glucose metabolism in diabetic rats and reduce the diabetes-induced diaphragm damage. The action mechanism of the drug may be related to promote the mRNA expression of GLUT4 in diaphragm and improve the uptake and metabolism of blood glucose.

The use of glutamate decarboxylase and glutamate dehydrogenase reactors in flow injection (FI) systems for the determination of glutamate in food is described. In a gas diffusion FI system, glutamate was decarboxylated by glutamate decarboxylase immobilized on a carrier. The produced carbon dioxide was measured spectrophotometrically after gas diffusion using an acid–base indicator as acceptor. The linear range of calibration was from 2 to 20 mmol l–1 with r= 0.9978 and the RSD was 2.8%(n= 5) for 10 mmol l–1L-glutamate. Using a glutamate dehydrogenase reactor the NADH formed by the enzymic reaction was detected at 340 nm. For the normal FI approach the calibration graph was linear from 0.05–0.06 mmol l–1 with r= 0.9991 and the RSD was 2.4%(n= 5) for 0.3 mmol l–1L-glutamate. For the stop flow approach with a significant reduction in NAD+ consumption the linear range was from 0.2 to 1.0 mmol l–1L-glutamate with r= 0.9994. The RSD was 1.9%(n= 5) for 0.6 mmol l–1L-glutamate. A sample frequency of 30 h–1 using these three approaches was reached. Results from food samples using these three approaches were in good agreement with each other. Recoveries were 94.6–101.2%, 96.7–99.3% and 95.9–98.2% for L-glutamate decarboxylase, L-glutamate dehydrogenase with the normal FI approach and L-glutamate dehydrogenase with the stop flow approach, respectively. The assay results of one sample compared well with those given by the manufacturer.