[The formal dynamics of population transition]

This paper reexamines the facts and theories of the much debated population transition and proposes that the transition should be regarded as a "regularity" governing the population growth of the nations during the past 200 years. It is argued that in almost all cases the mortality decline has preceded the fertility decline but socioeconomic covariates of fertility have been found to be inconsistent, a supply dominant resolution with built-in dynamics of the renewal process should be adopted. Fertility decline is then related to a subjective increase in the supply of children, and alternatively, to the relative income of the young adults entering the labor market. Evidence affirming the relationships between mortality decline, shifting age composition, and fertility decline are provided.

Primary necrosis of corpus callosum with dystrophic astrogliosis and Rosenthal-like fiber formation. The first Chinese case of Marchiafava-Bignami's disease (MBD)

The first Chinese case of MBD is reported as an incidental finding in a non-alcoholic who died from syphilitic heart disease complicated by subacute endocarditis. The extensive necrotic and demyelinating lesion of the body of corpus callosum presents no sandwich appearance. The core of the corpus callosum shows dystrophic astrogliosis with Rosenthal-like fibers and Alzheimer astrocytes, while only reactive astrogliosis is observed in its subpia and subependyma. The development of dystrophic astrogliosis in which gemistocytosis is believed to be the central theme, with the presence of Rosenthal-like fibers and Alzheimer astrocytes in this case denotes possibly a severe metabolic derangement of the affected astroglia. The presence of the subpial and subependymal reactive astrogliosis of the body of corpus callosum to the dystrophic astrogliosis of its core suggests that the same injury may lead to different responses in different subtypes of astrocytes of the same anatomic locus.

Certain progress in the treatment of coronary heart disease with traditional medicinal plants in China

A case of coronary heart disease in China was confirmed by the necropsy of a female body unearthed from the tomb at Changsha. It proved that such a case existed about 2,100 years ago. Research in reducing the frequency of myocardial infarction by traditional medicinal plants showed the effect of several herbs. The traditional aromatic and warm herbal medicines may have the possibility of relieving coronary arterial spasm. The clinical and experimental observations proved that the Huoxue-huayu plants' action against blood platelet aggregation and against attack was effective.