論《壹週刊》與香港社會文化的關係

雜誌已成為都市人接收訊息重要的一環。九十年代初成衣商人黎智英創辦了《壹週刊》雜誌，令雜誌界產生了不同層面的變化，亦影響了香港的整體社會文化。透過《壹週刊》來研究香港社會文化，可說是較為有代表性，因它在相同類型雜誌中擁有特別的歷史因素和影響力。本文的目的，就是希望研究《壹週刊》與香港社會文化之間，所出現的互動和微妙關係。讀者是隨著流行讀物而改變生活模式，所謂「潮流興乜就跟乜」，視雜誌為潮流的指標；流行讀物亦會因應讀者口味或社會文化，去改變其報導內容；社會文化被流行讀物影響著它的發展，它又會影響讀者的行為和思想。這種微妙的互動關係，正在香港這傳媒發展日趨蓬勃的地方，有著健全而具影響力之發展。論文以《壹週刊》為主線，從讀者、社會與雜誌之間的關係，分析它們怎樣影響著雜誌的選題方向及風格路線。 單從香港社會文化來說，雜誌掌握不同時代的流行話題，或是未成氣候的潮 流資訊，而成為最新鮮題材。因此，雜誌內容以通俗文化及讀者需要而改變，例 如他們對生活質素上的講求、對事物的好奇心態等，因此潮流雜誌能告訴我們香港人的心態，論文會研究《壹週刊》內容特色怎樣表現香港社會文化。此外，《壹週刊》從九十年代開始，成為紀錄香港社會轉變的重要雜誌之一，從「縱向」層 面來說，文章會分析《壹週刊》眼中，香港在政治、經濟及生活上十多年來有著甚麼轉變；從「橫向」層面上，在同一件新聞中，它跟其他報刊在內容上所取的重點及文字表達方法，又是否一樣呢？是帶動還是抹黑著香港社會文化？讀者又是否應該要懂得分別題材的真確性呢？論文透過不同層次的比較方法，研究雜誌與社會文化的微妙關係。論文的最後部份，會深入探討《壹週刊》對香港社會及傳媒文化的各種影響，評論《壹週刊》的存在意義和價值。 選定以傳媒文化為畢業論文的主題，全因為對傳媒的興趣及它所發出的威力。一本雜誌能夠影響著社會各層面，如市民對時事的判斷和立場、潮流話題與 喜好等，影響範圍之廣實在不容忽視。當我從電影、電視、報紙、雜誌等傳媒類別收窄題材範圍之後，決定利用《壹週刊》為論文研究對象，希望透過雜誌背景及內容的獨特性，研究香港社會文化跟雜誌之間互相影響的關係。其實論文起初開始下筆時，遇到最大的問題是怎樣客觀地分析研究對象和以自己的角度評論雜誌，正因為《壹週刊》是我經常閱讀的雜誌，有很多看法已經變得根深柢固，要從讀者身份抽離初時並不容易，後來經過閱讀不同的書籍和文章，令我對香港傳媒及《壹週刊》有更深入的了解，問題已逐漸解決。 在搜集資料方面，每一期的《壹週刊》當然是重要的材料，但論文有些部份需分析《壹週刊》的內容及對社會的影響，亦因將不同材料套入論文主題作比較， 要配合《壹週刊》及其他相關雜誌作為例子，所以需要尋找不同年份而又適合的雜誌，是一件比較艱巨的事情。幸好，每當我「出征」香港大學圖書館「香港特藏資料區」時，總會找到些令我驚喜的資料，這可算是研究論文過程中的原動力。 由去年開始定題，其後無間斷地搜集資料、寫作、會見指導老師……重覆以上動作超過十個月的時間。此畢業論文可算是本人「十月懷胎」的孩子吧﹗不知道他/她的體重是否足「六磅四」呢？

Effects of Flos carthami on CYP2D6 and on the Pharmacokinetics of Metoprolol in Rats

Flos carthami is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Clinically, the Flos carthami Injection has been used concomitantly with other Western drugs and may be used concomitantly with β-blockers, such as metoprolol, to treat cerebrovascular and coronary heart diseases, in China. Metoprolol is a CYP2D6 substrate and is predominantly metabolized by this isozyme. However, we do not know whether there is an effect of Flos carthami on CYP2D6 and the consequences of such an effect. Concern is raised regarding the possible herb-drug interaction. In this report, the effects of Flos carthami on the activity of CYP2D6 in vivo and in vitro and on the pharmacokinetics of metoprolol, in rats, are investigated. To assess the inhibitory potency of Flos carthami, the concentration associated with 50% inhibition (IC50) of dextromethorphan metabolism was determined based on the concentration-inhibition curves. The inhibitory effect of Flos carthami on CYP2D6 was also compared with cimetidine in vitro. Flos carthami could significantly inhibit CYP2D6 in rats both in vitro and in vivo (P < .05) and could slow down the metabolic rate of metoprolol as suggested by prolonged t1/2 (67.45%), by increased Cmax (74.51%) and AUC0−∞ (76.89%). These results suggest that CYP2D6 is a risk factor when Flos carthami is administered concomitantly with metoprolol or other CYP2D6 substrates

A trial of patient-oriented problem-solving system for immunology teaching in China: a comparison with dialectic lectures

BACKGROUND: The most common teaching method used in China is lecturing, but recently, efforts have been widely undertaken to promote the transition from teacher-centered to student-centered education. The patient-oriented problem-solving (POPS) system is an innovative teaching-learning method that permits students to work in small groups to solve clinical problems, promotes self-learning, encourages clinical reasoning and develops long-lasting memory. To our best knowledge, however, POPS has never been applied in teaching immunology in China. The aim of this study was to develop POPS in teaching immunology and assess students’ and teachers’ perception to POPS. METHODS: 321 second-year medical students were divided into two groups: I and II. Group I, comprising 110 students, was taught by POPS, and 16 immunology teachers witnessed the whole teaching process. Group II including the remaining 211 students was taught through traditional lectures. The results of the pre- and post-test of both groups were compared. Group I students and teachers then completed a self-structured feedback questionnaire for analysis before a discussion meeting attended only by the teachers was held. RESULTS: Significant improvement in the mean difference between the pre- and post-test scores of those in Groups I and II was seen, demonstrating the effectiveness of POPS teaching. Most students responded that POPS facilitates self-learning, helps them to understand topics and creates interest, and 88.12% of students favored POPS over simple lectures. Moreover, while they responded that POPS facilitated student learning better than lectures, teachers pointed out that limited teaching resources would make it difficult for wide POPS application in China. CONCLUSIONS: While POPS can break up the monotony of dialectic lectures and serve as a better teaching method, it may not be feasible for the current educational environment in China. The main reason for this is the relative shortage of teaching resources such as space, library facilities and well-trained teachers

Factors influencing accelerated aging in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease

ObjectiveTo investigate the factors influencing accelerated aging in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and coronary heart disease (CHD).MethodsA total of 216 patients diagnosed with T2DM and CHD between August 2019 and August 2023 at Xuzhou Central Hospital were selected. Patients were divided into an aging group and a non-aging group, based on the positive or negative values of phenotypic age acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel). Logistic regression analysis was conducted. Variables that had a univariate analysis P&lt; 0.05 were included in the multivariate analysis to identify factors influencing aging in patients with T2DM and CHD, and the area under the curve of the model was reported.ResultsThis study included 216 patients, with 89 in the accelerated aging group, and 127 in the non-accelerated aging group. The average age of patients was 70.40 (95% CI: 69.10-71.69) years, with 137 males (63.4%). Compared with the non-accelerated aging group, patients in the accelerated aging group were older, with a higher proportion of males, and a higher prevalence of hypertension, stable angina pectoris, and unstable angina pectoris. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that the absolute value of neutrophils (NEUT#), urea (UREA), adenosine deaminase (ADA), and the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) were risk factors for accelerated aging, while cholinesterase (CHE) was a protective factor. For each unit increase in NEUT#, UREA, ADA, and TyG, the risk of aging increased by 64%, 48%, 10%, and 789%, respectively. The overall area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the model in the training set was 0.894, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.851-0.938.ConclusionNEUT#, CHE, UREA, ADA, and TyG are predictors of accelerated aging in patients with T2DM and CHD, with the model showing favorable overall predictive performance

Pyrosequencing analysis of IRS1 methylation levels in schizophrenia with tardive dyskinesia

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a serious side effect of certain antipsychotic medications that are used to treat schizophrenia (SCZ) and other mental illnesses. The methylation status of the insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) gene is reportedly associated with SCZ; however, no study, to the best of the authors\u27 knowledge, has focused on the quantitative DNA methylation levels of the IRS1 gene using pyrosequencing in SCZ with or without TD. The present study aimed to quantify DNA methylation levels of 4 CpG sites in the IRS1 gene using a Chinese sample including SCZ patients with TD and without TD (NTD) and healthy controls (HCs). The general linear model (GLM) was used to detect DNA methylation levels among the 3 proposed groups (TD vs. NTD vs. HC). Mean DNA methylation levels of 4 CpG sites demonstrated normal distribution. Pearson\u27s correlation analysis did not reveal any significant correlations between the DNA methylation levels of the 4 CpG sites and the severity of SCZ. GLM revealed significant differences between the 3 groups for CpG site 1 and the average of the 4 CpG sites (P=0.0001 and P=0.0126, respectively). Furthermore, the TD, NTD and TD + NTD groups demonstrated lower methylation levels in CpG site 1 (P=0.0003,

The Relationship Between Facial Expression and Cognitive Function in Patients With Depression

Objective: Considerable evidence has shown that facial expression recognition ability and cognitive function are impaired in patients with depression. We aimed to investigate the relationship between facial expression recognition and cognitive function in patients with depression.Methods: A total of 51 participants (i.e., 31 patients with depression and 20 healthy control subjects) underwent facial expression recognition tests, measuring anger, fear, disgust, sadness, happiness, and surprise. The Chinese version of the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), which assesses seven cognitive domains, was used.Results: When compared with a control group, there were differences in the recognition of the expressions of sadness (p = 0.036), happiness (p = 0.041), and disgust (p = 0.030) in a depression group. In terms of cognitive function, the scores of patients with depression in the Trail Making Test (TMT; p &lt; 0.001), symbol coding (p &lt; 0.001), spatial span (p &lt; 0.001), mazes (p = 0.007), the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT; p = 0.001), category fluency (p = 0.029), and continuous performance test (p = 0.001) were lower than those of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. The accuracy of sadness and disgust expression recognition in patients with depression was significantly positively correlated with cognitive function scores. The deficits in sadness expression recognition were significantly correlated with the TMT (p = 0.001, r = 0.561), symbol coding (p = 0.001, r = 0.596), maze (p = 0.015, r = 0.439), and the BVMT (p = 0.044, r = 0.370). The deficits in disgust expression recognition were significantly correlated with impairments in the TMT (p = 0.005, r = 0.501) and symbol coding (p = 0.001, r = 0.560).Conclusion: Since cognitive function is impaired in patients with depression, the ability to recognize negative facial expressions declines, which is mainly reflected in processing speed, reasoning, problem-solving, and memory

Isolated toughness and path-factor uniform graphs

A P≥k-factor of a graph G is a spanning subgraph of G whose components are paths of order at least k. We say that a graph G is P≥k-factor covered if for every edge e ∈ E(G), G admits a P≥k-factor that contains e; and we say that a graph G is P≥k-factor uniform if for every edge e ∈ E(G), the graph G−e is P≥k-factor covered. In other words, G is P≥k-factor uniform if for every pair of edges e1, e2 ∈ E(G), G admits a P≥k-factor that contains e1 and avoids e2. In this article, we testify that (1) a 3-edge-connected graph G is P≥k-factor uniform if its isolated toughness I(G) > 1; (2) a 3-edge-connected graph G is P≥k-factor uniform if its isolated toughness I(G) > 2. Furthermore, we explain that these conditions on isolated toughness and edge-connectivity in our main results are best possible in some sense

Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Reservoir-Induced Earthquakes Using P-Wave Velocity Structures

In this study, through the seismic phase observation report obtained by a river reservoir seismic network from September 2012 to July 2015, the joint inversion method of source and velocity structure is employed, combined with the regional seismic geological environment data. Such method gives the P-wave velocity structure of different sections in the reservoir area and tries to find out the impact range of the reservoir water depth. And the impact of reservoir water infiltration on crustal medium is discussed. The obtained location results show that the earthquake activity is mainly concentrated in the first reservoir tail and the second reservoir head. As such, the spatial distribution characteristics of the recorded earthquakes are given, and the resolution results of detection board at different depths are speculated and discussed