Interrelationships between Cellular Density,Mosaic Patterning,and Dendritic Coverage of VGluT3 Amacrine Cells

Amacrine cells of the retina are conspicuously variable in their morphologies, their population demographics, and their ensuing functions. Vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGluT3) amacrine cells are a recently characterized type of amacrine cell exhibiting local dendritic autonomy. The present analysis has examined three features of this VGluT3 population, including their density, local distribution, and dendritic spread, to discern the extent to which these are interrelated, using male and female mice. We first demonstrate that Bax-mediated cell death transforms the mosaic of VGluT3 cells from a random distribution into a regular mosaic. We subsequently examine the relationship between cell density and mosaic regularity across recombinant inbred strains of mice, finding that, although both traits vary across the strains, they exhibit minimal covariation. Other genetic determinants must therefore contribute independently to final cell number and to mosaic order. Using a conditional KO approach, we further demonstrate that Bax acts via the bipolar cell population, rather than cell-intrinsically, to control VGluT3 cell number. Finally, we consider the relationship between the dendritic arbors of single VGluT3 cells and the distribution of their homotypic neighbors. Dendritic field area was found to be independent of Voronoi domain area, while dendritic coverage of single cells was not conserved, simply increasing with the size of the dendritic field. Bax-KO retinas exhibited a threefold increase in dendritic coverage. Each cell, however, contributed less dendrites at each depth within the plexus, intermingling their processes with those of neighboring cells to approximate a constant volumetric density, yielding a uniformity in process coverage across the population.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Different types of retinal neuron spread their processes across the surface of the retina to achieve a degree of dendritic coverage that is characteristic of each type. Many of these types achieve a constant coverage by varying their dendritic field area inversely with the local density of like-type neighbors. Here we report a population of retinal amacrine cells that do not develop dendritic arbors in relation to the spatial positioning of such homotypic neighbors; rather, this cell type modulates the extent of its dendritic branching when faced with a variable number of overlapping dendritic fields to approximate a uniformity in dendritic density across the retina.     

Exploring the impacts of organisational structure,policy and practice on the health inequalities of marginalised communities: Illustrative cases from the UK healthcare system

This paper explores how organisational structure, policies and practices in healthcare can inadvertently disadvantage marginalised populations (e.g. individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds) and reinforce health inequalities. We draw upon three diverse UK healthcare settings (long term care institutions, high security hospitals and community pharmacies) to illustrate how systemic injustices negatively impact on access to care, treatment and health outcomes. The first case study considers the care of older people within nursing homes; specifically the disempowering effects of this service structure and impacts of choice reduction upon health and their access to health provision. The second case study explores the impact of security restrictions upon patients within high security hospitals, focusing particularly on the maintenance of relationships and support networks outside of the hospital. The third and final case study, draws upon a national community pharmacy medicine management service to illustrate ways in which policies and guidelines inadvertently obstruct patients' engagement with the service within a community setting. We draw upon these settings to highlight inequalities within different contexts and to illustrate the ways in which well intended services can inadvertently disadvantage marginalised communities in multiple ways.     

The spatial dimensions of medication management by home-dwelling older adults after hospital discharge

Ageing in place raises pressing questions about medication practices at home. Understanding how medication practices are integrated into older adults’ domestic settings requires an interest in where activities linked to medication take place and why. This study aimed to describe the medication practices and spatial dimensions of medication management for home-dwelling older adults after hospital discharge, using a qualitative research design. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with ten older adults aged 65 years old or more and discharged home from hospital, together with nine informal caregivers. Thematic content analysis identified two main themes dealing with the spatial dimensions of medication management in this specific context: the process of integrating medication changes into routines and familiar spaces, and the individual and collective management of medication changes linked to a renegotiation of the boundaries between public and private spaces.     

基于数据挖掘的国医大师治疗心悸用药规律探讨

目的:基于中医传承软件系统探讨国医大师治疗心悸的用药规律。方法:收集整理《国医大师验案良方·心脑卷》中治疗心悸的病案并录入中医传承辅助平台,采用规则分析、改进互信息法、复杂系统熵聚类等数据挖掘方法,统计分析其中的用药规律。结果:分析纳入的83个病案得出149味中药,所用中药性味多为甘温,主要归心、肺、脾三经,包括丹参、黄芪、炙甘草、麦冬等高频次中药。提取置信度为1的丹参,五味子→麦冬组合,可窥见生脉饮的雏形并衍生出10个新方,新方可分为五类,分别为行气化痰类、滋阴养血类、温通心阳类、益气活血类和化痰祛瘀类。结论:国医大师治疗心悸有规律可循,主要以“益气通阳”“养阴补血”“化痰祛瘀”为组方规律,标本并治。     

基于频数分析法的骨伤科中成药用药规律研究

目的：探讨骨伤科中成药的用药规律，为临床合理用药及新药开发提供参考。方法：以《中国药典》2015年版一部收载的骨伤科类中成药共149个为研究对象，运用频数分析的方法研究其主治病症、所用剂型、各类方剂高频药物、核心药物组成，分析骨伤科中成药用药规律。结果：常用骨伤科中成药中治疗骨关节痹症的最多，其次为跌打损伤和骨关节退行性疾病的中成药；剂型以胶囊剂、片剂、丸剂为主；以活血化瘀药、祛风湿药、补虚药为核心药物组合，各类方剂中三者比例偏重不同。结论：通过对研究结果进行分析，提出了新药研发的方向。     

Holter监测冠心病无痛性心肌缺血发作规律的研究

目的 探讨冠心病无痛性心肌缺血的发作规律。方法 对确诊的486例冠心病患者，进行24小时Holter监到，观察无痛性心肌缺血发作的次数、时间及其与活动状态的关系。结果 486例冠心病患者中发生无症状性心肌缺血者335例，共698次，累计时间为3526分钟。其中619次与活动有关。6：00—12：00为无痛性心肌缺血发作高峰期，在此期间共发作389次，累计时间为2100分钟。具有无痛性心肌缺血的冠心病患者的死亡率为13．02％，高于有症状的冠心病患者的4．72％。两组死亡率间差别有显著性意义(P＜0．05)。结论 无痛性心肌缺血的发作有一定的规律，掌握该规律对于指导临床治疗、降低心脏猝死及预防心肌缺血的发作有一定的作用。     

艾灸联合弥可保治疗糖尿病周围神经病变40例

目的评价艾灸联合弥可保治疗糖尿病周围神经病变的疗效。方法对糖尿病周围神经病变患者80例按1∶1比例等分为联合组和对照组,两组基于等同的基础治疗之上,联合组用艾灸联合弥可保治疗,对照组单纯用弥可保治疗,疗程3个月,比较治疗前后的神经传导速度变化和症状改善情况。结果联合组和对照组神经传导速度均改善,以联合组改善更明显;联合组和对照组显效、有效、无效分别是52.5%、32.5%、15.0%和35.0%、27.5%、37.5%,组间差异有统计学意义(P<0.01或P<0.05)。结论建立于基础治疗之上的艾灸联合弥可保治疗糖尿病周围神经病变优于单纯弥可保治疗。