系统生物学引导阿尔茨海默病治疗新策略

阿尔茨海默病（AD）是一种发生于中老年期的退行性脑神经变性疾病,临床上以进行性智能衰退,伴有人格改变为主要特征.其发病过程涉及许多途径和靶点.现代医学认为脑内胆碱能递质功能紊乱、β-淀粉样蛋白沉积、tau-蛋白过磷酸化、炎症反应以及基因突变等在其发病过程中起着重要作用.治疗方法从胆碱酯酶抑制剂、神经递质受体阻滞剂到补气活血、益精填髓、化痰开窍等中医药疗法不等.但抑制剂、阻滞剂等药物阻滞疗法,从单一环节阻断发病途径,忽略了AD发病的整体复杂性.中医辨证论治从整体观念出发,在宏观上治疗AD,对AD的发病缺乏微观深入研究.AD治疗需要借助于“系统生物学”理论的指导.中西医结合为AD的治疗提供了较为科学、有效的途径和发展空间.     

Self-organizing individual differences in brain development

Brain development is self-organizing in that the unique structure of each brain evolves in unpredictable ways through recursive modifications of synaptic networks. In this article, I review mechanisms of neural change in real time and over development, and I argue that change at each of these time scales embodies principles of self-organizing systems. I demonstrate how corticolimbic configurations that emerge within occasions lay down synaptic structure across occasions, giving rise to individual trajectories that become entrenched with age. Emotions have a powerful influence on this process.This is because the neural processes mediating emotion consolidate patterns of activation across the brain, through their enhancement of inter-regional coordination in real time and their contribution to synaptic shaping over development. The loss of corticolimbic plasticity with age is an unfortunate fact of development, but it is compensated in part by transitional phases and individual learning experiences through which habits are modified or replaced. I emphasize variations in inter-systemic coupling as a key mediator of developing individual differences, and I discuss the acquisition of anxious/depressive appraisals as an example.     

智能结构三层次理论述评

近些年来,在认知领域,理论整合的趋势日益强烈,德米特里欧提出了一个关于人类智能结构与发展的“三层次”理论,使人们看到了理论整合令人鼓舞的前景。该理论认为人类智能是一个三层次体系,包括限定了信息加工潜力的加工系统、由一组用以理解不同现实和知识领域的专门化的能力系统组成的环境指向系统以及对这些系统起监控作用的超认知系统。最后,对该理论作了评价。     

A Grounded Approach to the Study of Complex Systems

The complex and dynamic nature of systems pose a particular challenge to researchers and require the use of a research methodology designed to deal with such systems. The properties of fit, relevance, understandability, generality, control, workability, generalizability, and modifiability make Glaserian grounded theory and grounded action particularly well suited for studying systems. These methods are innovative, systemic, and sophisticated enough to reveal the underlying complexities of systems and plan actions that address their complex, dynamic nature while remaining grounded in what is occurring within the systems as they change over time.     

The Idea of Creation and the Theory of Autopoietic Processes

Systems theory is proposed as a major resource for reconceptualizing a Christian theology of creation. Section I outlines the principles of the theory of autopoietic systems and discusses in particular Manfred Eigen's and Stuart Kauffman's differing views of the emergence of life. Section II shows how biblical texts conceive of God's "blessing" as a divine installment and reshaping of spatio-temporal fields for creaturely self-productivity. On this double basis, Section III undertakes a constructive attempt to formulate a theology of self-productivity within a Trinitarian framework. The unity of divine self-consistency and capacity for self-relativization is seen as the clue for understanding how God not only sustains the world in general but also influences particular processes by changing the overall probability pattern of evolving systems.     

A Realistic Vision? Roberto Unger on Law and Politics

This paper considers Roberto Unger's views on legal reasoning. His account is defended against two misplaced attacks. The first critique is by Emilios Christodoulidis. Using the language of systems theory, Christodoulidis contends that Unger's programme of democratic experimentalism cannot be achieved through law, as the constitutive structure of the legal system is immune to politics. Christodoulidis accuses Unger of attempting to reduce law to politics. It will be argued, however, that Unger does no such thing. The second attack holds that Unger's criticisms of objectivism apply to his own democratic vision and that, as a result, he cannot promote this vision without self-contradiction. Again, it will be argued that this criticism rests on a misunderstanding of Unger's views. The paper concludes with a tentative objection to the substantive proposals of Unger's work, suggesting that they ought to be replaced by a pluralist account of value. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Work, family and life-course fit: Does control over work time matter?

This study moves from “work-family” to a multi-dimensional “life-course fit” construct (employees’ cognitive assessments of resources, resource deficits, and resource demands), using a combined work-family, demands-control and ecology of the life course framing. It examined (1) impacts of job and home ecological systems on fit dimensions, and (2) whether control over work time predicted and mediated life-course fit outcomes. Using cluster analysis of survey data on a sample of 917 white-collar employees from Best Buy headquarters, we identified four job ecologies (corresponding to the job demands-job control model) and five home ecologies (theorizing an analogous home demands-home control model). Job and home ecologies predicted fit dimensions in an additive, not interactive, fashion. Employees’ work-time control predicted every life-course fit dimension and partially mediated effects of job ecologies, organizational tenure, and job category.     

罕见病防治法律制度的境外经验及其启示

分析美国、日本、澳大利亚和欧盟四个典型国家/地区在罕见病法律法规或有关规定方面的共性和差异,特别关注了制度设计、执行机构、运作机制和激励措施。发现药物可及性是各地法律制度的关键焦点,但在药物保障的具体法律实施方面各有不同,表现在单独法规与综合法律体系的选择上。此外,融入患者视角和强化社群治理是值得借鉴的经验。基于境外经验,提出适宜我国国情的罕见病防治法律制度优化建议,涵盖立法路径、立法切入点和立法内容,旨在更有效全面地保护罕见病患者权益。

     

科学与政治：理解重大传染病防治制度演进的两面观

为更好地呈现重大传染病防治实践中的科学与政治这两副“面孔”如何互动的图景,基于生物医学、社会医学、政策科学以及社会心理等学科,对防疫制度的演进历程进行学术史考察。其中,科学逻辑是人类应对重大传染病风险的核心力量,政治逻辑则是影响一个国家或社会能否有效实现防治目标的重要保障。在此基础上,又提出一套科学与权力如何互动的整合性范式,以联结国际–国内政治因素,融合宏观权力动因与微观认知基础,并通过危机沟通的信息场域使该范式更加鲜活,并由此对麦克尼尔的寄生理论范式作进一步思考。