Search

Objective: This study amied to investigated the perspective of gastrointestinal （GI） health among consumers of all ages, and their demands on related dietary supplements. Methods: Questionnaires were randomly distributed through the Internet, and 148 consumers completed the questionnaire, including infants, children and teenagers （1~18 years old）, adults （19~55 years old）, and older adults （over 55 years old）. The corresponding results were obtained from the data analyzed by SPSS. Results: Common GI issues affecting consumers include constipation, abdominal bloating and pain as well as diarrhea. Nearly half of consumers are very concerned about GI health. Unhealthy lifestyle habits and unhealthy diets are two main causes of GI issues in adults, while infants, children and teenagers are mainly affected by common cold and low-quality diets. It has been commonly assumed by consumers that GI health is related to low immunity, depression and bad breath in adults, and emaciation and malnutrition in children. Consumers generally take dietary supplements to deal with GI discomfort, among which the number of consumers knowing and taking probiotics is the highest, and yet the feedback on its effect has not been very positive. In their views, probiotics predominantly solve problems concerning GI issues. Sudden GI discomfort is the main cause of consumers taking dietary supplements for GI health, while unhealthy diets in adults and poor appetite in children are also important causes. Conclusion: Consumers are widely affected by GI issues, and there is a relatively high awareness among them of dietary supplements for GI, which are also in high demands varying with age. Further targeted dietary supplements for GI are needed to develop.

Objective： The study aimed to explore the effects of composite probiotics on the intestinal regulation. Methods： By constructing mouse model of constipation, intestinal damage and diarrhea, the intestinal ink propulsion, defecation and intestinal mucosal tissue sections in the control group, model group and probiotics-intervention group were evaluated. The diarrhea index and intestinal mucosal damage index were also considered for comprehensively assessment. Results: Compared with the model group, the mid-and high-concentration of composite probiotics could significantly improve the defecation amount and weight, and the small intestinal ink propulsion rate. Moreover, the intestinal mucosal damage score and histopathological damage were apparently reduced in the probiotics-intervention group at mid-and high-concentrations. The intestinal mucosal damage of diarrhea model mice was relieved by the composite probiotics at all tested concentrations. The mid-and high-concentration of the composite probiotics helped reduce constipation, diarrhea, and intestinal mucosal damage, and the higher concentration worked more effectively. Conclusion: The composite probiotics can be used as an alternative for the probiotics market and provide references for the development of probiotics product.

An investigation of the properties of a LiNbO3 photoelastic waveguide via the acceleration-induced effect is presented. A novel three-component hybrid-integrated optical accelerometer based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a LiNbO3 photoelastic waveguide has been designed, which is capable of detecting seismic acceleration in high-accuracy seismic exploration. The Mach-Zehnder interferometer was successfully fabricated and a lighting test used to check its quality. The frequency response characteristic of the accelerometer was measured. The accelerometer with a resonant frequency of 3549 Hz was demonstrated to show good linear frequency responding characteristics in the range of 100∼3000 Hz. The accelerometer also shows good stability and consistency. Experimental results indicate that the outputs of the on- and cross-axis are 147 and 21.3 mV, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Western theory of limited government argues that the affecting range and functioning procedure of the government's power should be limited by constitution, so that legitimacy of power and its rational interaction with society can be guaranteed. In this paper Lao Tzu's thought of limited government will be discussed, and it is argued that there are fundamental differences between Lao Tzu's thought and the Western one in terms of theoretical starting points and functioning conditions. People often interpreted Lao Tzu's political philosophy as the philosophy of "doing nothing political " or" no action governance". Actually, this is a misinterpretation. In Lao Tzu's philosophy, the origin and nature of all things is not "non-being" but the Tao; being and nonbeing are two action modalities of Tao. According to Lao Tzu, everything originates from Tao, carries with it the nature of Tao, and has to follow the rules of the Tao, and thereof, coexists with Tao. There are four fundamental power relationships in nature in which the human is governed by the earth, the earth by the heaven, the heaven by the Tao and Tao, the nature. In this sense, following the way of nature is the highest principle of the behavior of everything, including the government's administrative behavior. Hence, the core of Lao Tzu's political thought is following the way of nature and the Tao. In Lao Tzu's opinion, the Tao exists in the nature of man. Since the people are the primary political personalities, the ideal ruler should be one that "does not have his own will but that his will stems from the people". Kindness is the crown jewel of the three political treasures (prudence, thrift, not to be the number one). The expression of kindness is "Rule and order, admired and respected by all; with all the admiration and respect, no efforts are made to harm the masses; no harm done to the masses, tranquility and peace can he achieved". In this tranquility, "people can take pleasure of the flavor of their own choices of food, appreciate the beauty of their own choices of clothing, enjoy the comfort of their own choices of residence, and be happy with their own custom". In Lao Tzu's mind, tranquility and peace are the political ideal of the people, and it is an expression of the Tao. Based on this political view, Lao Tzu advocates the establishment of a government that is limited in size and scope, and follows the way of the nature. He categorized governments into four types: the best government, for which people barely know of its existence; the next best, people feel its closeness and say praises of it; the third type, feared by the people; and the fourth type, it enslaves the people. The best type of government can get things done while people all feel that it is out of their volition. It should keep small, take no action (or only act spontaneously when necessary), be weak and know where and when to stop to allow for the natural course of all things to happen. This kind of government is content with thrift, no desires, does not set up moral standards, tranquil and have no chores. Its input into management and governing activities can be zero. Nonetheless, it can allow the people to adjust themselves, the world be ordered, people be righteous, prosperous and thrifty. In this sense, it is a highly efficient and limited government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the effect of Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy on pain degree, quality of life, serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in patients with intercostal pain after surgery for osteoporotic thoracic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) and explore the application value of Fu's subcutaneous needling in treatment of post-operative intercostal pain., Methods: A total of 60 patients with intercostal pain after OVCF surgery were divided into a medication group and a Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy group, with 30 cases in each group. In the medication group, zoledronic acid injection, salmon calcitonin injection, calcitonin D tablets and mecobalamin tablets were prescribed. The duration of treatment was 8 weeks. In the Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy group, on the base of treatment as the medicine group, Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy was provided for 2 weeks，once every other day. The needle is inserted 6 cm away from the most painful point. Separately, in 2, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, as well as in 16 weeks after treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the generic quality of life inventory-74 (GQOLI-74) were adopted to evaluate intercostal pain and quality of life in the patients of both groups and analyze the incidence of adverse reaction. Radioimmunoassay was used to measure the levels of serum 5-HT and NPY., Results: Compared with the results before treatment, in 2, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment as well as in 16 weeks after treatment, VAS scores of both groups were all reduced ( P <0.05), GQOLI-74 scores increased obviously ( P <0.05) and the levels of serum 5-HT and NPY increased obviously ( P <0.05) in the two groups. In 2, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment as well as in 16 weeks after treatment, VAS score in the Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy group was lower than that in the medication group ( P <0.05), GQOLI-74 score and the levels of serum 5-HT and NPY were higher than those in the medication group ( P <0.05). During the treatment and in 16 weeks after treatment, the difference was not significant in the incidence of adverse reaction between the two groups ( P >0.05)., Conclusion: Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy can relieve intercostal pain and improves the quality of life in the patients after surgery for OVCF.