BackgroundAlong with three years implementation of health reform in China, this study aimed at providing the up-to-date evidence about the accessibility of essential public health services (EPHS) among adults with chronic diseases (CDs) in both urban and rural areas, as well as determinants in access to EPHS.MethodsThe data were collected from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2013, which used a multistage stratified random sampling method to select 54 urban communities and 54 rural villages. Hypertension patients and diabetes patients were the target population who are the main beneficiaries of EPHS. Single factor analysis of influencing factors on difference access to EPHS was performed by Chi-Square analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of effective management and effective control.ResultsPatients with hypertension or diabetes were predominantly middle-aged or older persons and had a mean age of 65.26 year. People with CDs in China have a higher basic accessibility rate in EPHS with more than 90% of them having experience in receiving EPHS. And those who are willing to receive services from doctors have the most positive influence on effective management and control in blood pressure or blood glucose. But unsatisfied quality and equity of EPHS still exist in primary health system. 90% of participants could receive EPHS, but just 44% of them could control their diseases effectively. And participants from cities had the higher rates in effective management (urban: rural = 57%: 50.6%) and effective control (urban: rural = 39.5%: 27.8%).ConclusionPeople with CDs have a high level in geography and economic accessibility to EPHS, but the effectiveness of health management also needs to be improved, especially for those living in rural areas. Our study highlights the continuing need for improving ability to provide EPHS and the equality among regions. Meanwhile, strengthen health education and promotion for patients with CDs to improve their willingness to receive EPHS is also highlighted.

Blend films were prepared by blending 7 wt % konjac glucomannan (KGM) aqueous solution with 2 wt % chitosan (CH) in acetate solution and dried at 40°C for 4 h to obtain the transparent films. Their structure and properties were studied by infrared (IR), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Crystallinities of the blend films decreased with the increase of konjac glucomannan. The thermostability, tensile strength, and breaking elongation of the blend films in dry state were obviously higher than those of both konjac glucomannan and chitosan films. Tensile strength of the dry blend film achieved 73.0MPa when the weight ratio of chitosan to konjac glucomannan was 7:3. The structure analysis indicated that there is a strong interaction between konjac glucomannan and chitosan resulted from intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The water solubility of the blend films was improved by blending with konjac glucomannan, so they have promising applications to soluble antiseptic coating of pills.

The transformation of PVDF from α-phase to β-phase makes PVDF more polar and decreases the crystallinity of PVDF.

Water is one of the most widespread impurities and contaminants for pharmaceuticals and chemical products. A simple, fast and reliable water assay method is of high significance for the pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing industries. In this work, lanthanide metal–organic framework Eu-dipicolinic acid/2-aminophthalic acid (Eu-DPA/PTA-NH2) was prepared as a double-color ratiometric fluorescent water sensor, which shows ultrasensitive (limit of detection 0.01% v/v) and linear broad-range (0–100% v/v) response to water. An innovative analytical device based on a one-to-two logic gate was constructed by using the water content and the two fluorescence responses as the input and output signals, respectively. The direct analysis of water content can be achieved by the four output types, NOT (0, 1), PASS 0 (0, 0), PASS 1 (1, 1), and YES (1, 0). Importantly, the metal–organic framework (MOF)-loaded fiber paper was prepared as a microsensor, and a water assay tube was designed for rapid water detection of solid pharmaceuticals via ratiometric chromaticity, coupled with a portable visual determination device. The paper-based microsensor is response-rapid (20 s), long-term stable (at least 30 days), and can achieve the accurate (relative error <9.8%) visual assay of trace water in solid pharmaceuticals. To our knowledge, this is the first time to report an MOF-based double-color ratiometric fluorescent water sensor, a water analytical logic device, and a paper-based water microsensor for point-of-care visual water assay in solid samples via ratiometric chromaticity.

BackgroundThe high prevalence of risky irrational drug use behaviors mean that outpatients face high risks of drug resistance and even death. This study represents the first application of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model on rational drug use behavior among second-level hospital outpatients from three prefecture-level cities in Anhui, China. Using the IMB model, our study examined predictors of rational drug use behavior and determined the associations between the model constructs.MethodsThis study was conducted with a sample of 1,214 outpatients aged 18 years and older in Anhui second-level hospitals and applied the structural equation model (SEM) to test predictive relations among the IMB model variables related to rational drug use behavior.ResultsAge, information and motivation had significant direct effects on rational drug use behavior. Behavioral skills as an intermediate variable also significantly predicted more rational drug use behavior. Female gender, higher educational level, more information and more motivation predicted more behavioral skills. In addition, there were significant indirect impacts on rational drug use behavior mediated through behavioral skills.ConclusionsThe IMB-based model explained the relationships between the constructs and rational drug use behavior of outpatients in detail, and it suggests that future interventions among second-level hospital outpatients should consider demographic characteristics and should focus on improving motivation and behavioral skills in addition to the publicity of knowledge.

Solid-state lithium batteries using solid polymer electrolytes can improve the safety and energy density of batteries. Smoother lithium-ion channels are necessary for solid polymer electrolytes with high ionic conductivity. The porosity and channel structure of the polymer film affect the transfer of lithium ions. However, their controllable synthesis remains a big challenge. Here, we developed a simple synthesis approach toward wrinkled microporous polymer electrolytes by combining the amphoteric (water solubility and organic solubility) polymer in three polymer blends. The homogeneous blend solution spontaneously wrinkled to vertical fold channels as the solvent evaporated. Two minor polymers, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and polyetherimide (PEI), formed close stacks, and Janus PVP was dispersed in the poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) matrix. The interfacial tensions between the three polymers were different, so stress was produced when they solidified. The solvent was evaporated to the top layer of the polymers when the temperature increased. The bottom layer wrinkled owing to the stress during solidification. The evaporation of the solvent generated micropores to form the lithium-ion channel. They helped Li + transference and created a wrinkled microporous PVDF-based polymer electrolyte, which achieved an ionic conductivity of 5.1 × 10 −4 S cm −1 and a lithium-ion transference number of 0.51 at room temperature. Meanwhile, the good flame retardancy and tensile strength of the polymer electrolyte film can improve the safety of the battery. At 0.5C and room temperature, the batteries with a LiFePO 4 cathode and the wrinkled microporous LiTFSI/PEI/PVP/PVDF electrolyte reached a high discharge specific capacity of 122.1 mAh g −1 at the 100th cycle with a Coulombic efficiency of above 99%. The results of tensile and self-extinguishing tests show that the polymer electrolyte film has good safety application prospects.

The aim of the present research was to study the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of apigenin on d-galactose-induced aging mice. Firstly, apigenin exhibited a potent antioxidant activity in vitro. Secondly, d-galactose was administered by subcutaneous injection once daily for 8 weeks to establish an aging mouse model to investigate the protective effect of apigenin. We found that apigenin supplementation significantly ameliorated aging-related changes such as behavioral impairment, decreased organic index, histopathological injury, increased senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SAβ-gal) activity and advanced glycation end product (AGE) level. Further data showed that apigenin facilitated Nrf2 nuclear translocation both in aging mice and normal young mice, and the Nrf2 expression of normal young mice was higher than that of natural senile mice. In addition, the expressions of Nrf2 downstream gene targets, including HO-1 and NQO1, were also promoted by apigenin administration. Moreover, apigenin also decreased the MDA level and elevated SOD and CAT activities. In conclusion, focusing on the Nrf2 pathway is a suitable strategy to delay the aging process, and apigenin may exert an anti-senescent effect process via activating the Nrf2 pathway.

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