[Research progress in treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome with traditional Chinese medicine].

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome(CP/CPPS) is a common urological disease with complex etiology. The treatment effect of western medicine is not satisfactory, and the course of the disease is protracted, which brings great trouble to patients. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has a variety of treatment methods based on syndrome differentiation and treatment, including internal treatment with TCM, acupuncture and massage, and other external treatment methods for comprehensive treatment, with significant effect. This study summarized the etiology and pathogenesis of CP/CPPS and found that western medicine cannot fully explain the etiology and pathogenesis of CP/CPPS. It was believed that CP/CPPS was mainly related to many factors such as special pathogen infection, voiding dysfunction, mental and psychological abnormalities, neuroendocrine abnormalities, immune abnormalities, excessive oxidative stress, pelvic diseases, and heredity. TCM believed that CP/CPPS was caused by damp heat, blood stasis, Qi stagnation, and poisoning and was closely related to the organs of the liver, spleen, kidney, lung, stomach, bladder, and meridians of Chong and Ren channels and three yin channels of the foot. In the treatment of TCM, multiple comprehensive treatment plans are currently used, including internal treatment with TCM(decoction, proprietary Chinese medicine, and unique therapies of famous doctors), acupuncture and massage treatment, and other external treatment methods(rectal administration, topical application of TCM, and ear acupoint pressure). Comprehensive regulation has significant clinical efficacy and prominent characteristics of TCM, and it is worth clinical promotion. This study aims to provide a reference for clinical prevention and treatment of CP/CPPS and points out potential directions for future research in this field.

UIEOGP: an underwater image enhancement method based on optical geometric properties.

Due to the inconsistent absorption and scattering effects of different wavelengths of light, underwater images often suffer from color casts, blurred details, and low visibility. To address this image degradation problem, we propose a robust and efficient underwater image enhancement method named UIEOGP. It can be divided into the following three steps. First, according to the light attenuation effect presented by Lambert Beer's law, combined with the variance change after attenuation, we estimate the depth of field in the underwater image. Then, we propose a local-based color correction algorithm to address the color cast issue in underwater images, employing the statistical distribution law. Finally, drawing inspiration from the law of light propagation, we propose detail enhancement algorithms, each based on the geometric properties of circles and ellipses, respectively. The enhanced images produced by our method feature vibrant colors, improved contrast, and sharper detail. Extensive experiments show that our method outperforms current state-of-the-art methods. In further experiments, we found that our method is beneficial for downstream tasks of underwater image processing, such as the detection of keypoints and edges in underwater images.

A Distinguishable Pseudo-Feature Synthesis Method for Generalized Zero-Shot Learning.

Generalized zero-shot learning (GZSL) aims to classify seen classes and unseen classes that are disjoint simultaneously. Hybrid approaches based on pseudo-feature synthesis are currently the most popular among GZSL methods. However, they suffer from problems of negative transfer and low-quality class discriminability, causing poor classification accuracy. To address them, we propose a novel GZSL method of distinguishable pseudo-feature synthesis (DPFS). The DPFS model can provide high-quality distinguishable characteristics for both seen and unseen classes. Firstly, the model is pretrained by a distance prediction loss to avoid overfitting. Then, the model only selects attributes of similar seen classes and makes sparse representations based on attributes for unseen classes, thereby overcoming negative transfer. After the model synthesizes pseudo-features for unseen classes, it disposes of the pseudo-feature outliers to improve the class discriminability. The pseudo-features are fed into a classifier of the model together with features of seen classes for GZSL classification. Experimental results on four benchmark datasets verify that the proposed DPFS has GZSL classification performance better than that in existing methods.

Oil pollutant identification based on excitation-emission matrix of UV-induced fluorescence and deep convolutional neural network.

Identifying the types of oil pollutants in a spill event can help determine the source of spill and formulate the plan of emergency responses. Excitation-emission matrix (EEM), which is also called three-dimensional fluorometric spectra, includes abundant spectral information in the domain of excitation wavelength and can be potentially applied to identify oil types. UV-induced fluorometric experiments were conducted in this study to collect EEMs for five types of oil that are commonly used in maritime transportation. A deep convolutional neural network (CNN) model for oil types identification was built based on the classic VGG-16 model. According to the identification results, the model was able to provide a reasonable classification on the five types of oil used in the experiments. Additionally, a biased classification result was observed in the experiment: the model was able to provide the most accurate classification on 0W40 lubricant but encounters difficulty distinguishing between - 10# diesel and 92# gasoline. The potential reasons for this result and the approaches to improve the model were also discussed.

[Clinical study of type â ¢ prostatitis treated with "warming and promoting technique" of acupuncture combined with extracorporeal shock wave].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical curative effect of wentongzhenfa (warming and promoting technique of acupuncture) combined with extracorporeal shock wave in treatment of type Ⅲ prostatitis. METHODS: A total of 96 patients with type Ⅲ prostatitis were randomly divided into an observation group (48 cases) and a control group (48 cases). In the control group, the extracorporeal shock wave was combined with even-needling technique of acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV4), Mingmen (GV4), Zhongji (CV3), Zusanli (ST36), etc. In the observation group, the extracorporeal shock wave was combined with "warming and promoting technique" of acupuncture at the same acupoints as the control group. The treatment lasted 30 min each time, once daily in either group. There were 2 days of interval after consecutive treatment for 5 days. Totally, the duration of treatment was 1 month in two groups. The clinical curative effect was assessed after treatment. Before and after treatment, the changes in the concentrations of tumor nerosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß) and IL-6 in prostatic fluid were determined; and the symptoms were scored, i.e. frequent, urgent and burning painful urine, difficulty in urination, dribbling urine, distending pain in perineum, bitter taste and dry mouth, and scrotal dampness. The changes in the scores of National Institute of Health chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI), international index of erectile function (IIEF), visual analogue scale (VAS) were evaluated befroe and after treatment. Successively, before treatment, after treatment, as well as 1 and 3 months after treatment, the quality of life was evaluated by Karnofsky in the patients of two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the total effective rate was 89.6% (43/48) in the observation group, higher than 70.8% (34/48) in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the concentrations of TNF-α and IL-1ß in the prostatic fluid were all decreased (P<0.05) and the concentration of IL-6 was increased (P<0.05), the scores of symptoms, NIH-CPSI, IIEF and VAS were all reduced (P<0.05) in two groups. The changes of the above indexes were more obvious in the observation group than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment and 1 and 3 months after treatment, Karnofsky scores all increased (P<0.05) in two groups，and the increases were more significant in the observation group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: "Warming and promoting technique" of acupuncture combined with extracorporeal shock wave promotes the elimination of local inflammatory factors, relieves clinical symptoms, improves the quality of life, as well as has a satisfactory short-term and medium-term curative effect on type Ⅲ prostatitis.

Experimental Analysis on the Optimal Excitation Wavelength for Fine-Grained Identification of Refined Oil Pollutants on Water Surface Based on Laser-Induced Fluorescence.

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is an effective and all-weather oil spill identification method that has been widely applied for oil spill monitoring. However, the distinguishability on oil types was seldom considered while selecting the excitation wavelengths. This study is intended to find the optimal excitation wavelength for fine-grained classification of refined oil pollutants using LIF by comparing the distinguishability of fluorometric spectra under various excitation wavelengths on some typical types of refined oil samples. The results show that the fluorometric spectra of oil samples significantly vary under different excitation wavelengths, and the four types of oil applied in this study are most likely to be distinguished under the excitation wavelengths of 395 nm and 420 nm. This study is expected to improve the ability of oil types identification using LIF method without increasing time or other cost, and also provide theoretical basis for the development of portable LIF devices for oil spill types identification.

Flexible Ag Microparticle/MXene-Based Film for Energy Harvesting.

Ultra-thin flexible films have attracted wide attention because of their excellent ductility and potential versatility. In particular, the energy-harvesting films (EHFs) have become a research hotspot because of the indispensability of power source in various devices. However, the design and fabrication of such films that can capture or transform different types of energy from environments for multiple usages remains a challenge. Herein, the multifunctional flexible EHFs with effective electro-/photo-thermal abilities are proposed by successive spraying Ag microparticles and MXene suspension between on waterborne polyurethane films, supplemented by a hot-pressing. The optimal coherent film exhibits a high electrical conductivity (1.17×104 S m-1), excellent Joule heating performance (121.3 °C) at 2 V, and outstanding photo-thermal performance (66.2 °C within 70 s under 100 mW cm-1). In addition, the EHFs-based single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) give short-circuit transferred charge of 38.9 nC, open circuit voltage of 114.7 V, and short circuit current of 0.82 µA. More interestingly, the output voltage of TENG can be further increased via constructing the double triboelectrification layers. The comprehensive ability for harvesting various energies of the EHFs promises their potential to satisfy the corresponding requirements.

Engineering of Yeast Old Yellow Enzyme OYE3 Enables Its Capability Discriminating of (E)-Citral and (Z)-Citral.

The importance of yeast old yellow enzymes is increasingly recognized for direct asymmetric reduction of (E/Z)-citral to (R)-citronellal. As one of the most performing old yellow enzymes, the enzyme OYE3 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288C exhibited complementary enantioselectivity for the reduction of (E)-citral and (Z)-citral, resulting in lower e.e. value of (R)-citronellal in the reduction of (E/Z)-citral. To develop a novel approach for the direct synthesis of enantio-pure (R)-citronellal from the reduction of (E/Z)-citral, the enzyme OYE3 was firstly modified by semi-rational design to improve its (R)-enantioselectivity. The OYE3 variants W116A and S296F showed strict (R)-enantioselectivity in the reduction of (E)-citral, and significantly reversed the (S)-enantioselectivity in the reduction of (Z)-citral. Next, the double substitution of OYE3 led to the unique variant S296F/W116G, which exhibited strict (R)-enantioselectivity in the reduction of (E)-citral and (E/Z)-citral, but was not active on (Z)-citral. Relying on its capability discriminating (E)-citral and (Z)-citral, a new cascade reaction catalyzed by the OYE3 variant S296F/W116G and glucose dehydrogenase was developed, providing the enantio-pure (R)-citronellal and the retained (Z)-citral after complete reduction of (E)-citral.

Effects of miR-129-3p on biological functions of prostate cancer cells through targeted regulation of Smad3.

Effects of miR-129-3p on the biological functions of prostate cancer cells through the targeted regulation of Smad3 were investigated. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-129-3p in prostate cancer tissues and cells and its target gene Smad3 mRNA determined by bioinformatics prediction. Correlation between miR-129-3p and Smad3 was analyzed. MTT assay, cell invasion detection, and apoptosis detection were conducted to detect the effects of miR-129-3p and Smad3 on the proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis of prostate cancer cells. The results of RT-qPCR showed that the expression level of miR-129-3p decreased but that of Smad3 increased in the prostate cancer tissue, and the expression levels of the two were significantly and negatively correlated. Additionally, the expression levels were closely related to the degree of tumor differentiation, TNM staging, and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Bioinformatics prediction and subsequent experiments proved that Smad3 was the direct target gene of miR-129-3p. Cell detection confirmed that the overexpression of miR-129-3p or the inhibition of Smad3 expression inhibited the proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer cells, promoting apoptosis, and increased the expression level of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, as well as decreased the expression level of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Inhibition of miR-129-3p expression had the opposite effect to overexpression. miR-129-3p, which may be a new and potential target for the treatment of prostate cancer, can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer cells and promote their apoptosis by directly targeting Smad3.

Spatial differentiation characteristics of internal ecological land structure in rural settlements and its response to natural and socio-economic conditions in the Central Plains, China.

Ecological land in rural settlements (ELRS) can directly provide many ecosystem services for rural residents that are related to their well-being. This study selects landscape pattern indices to describe the structural characteristics of ELRS at the county level in the Central Plains region (CP), China. Fragmentation of ELRS in the North China Plain (NCP) is higher than that in the marginal mountainous and hilly areas of the CP, and ELRS dominance is higher in the south than in the north. The stability of household plots in the NCP western margin and woodlands in plain and basin areas is higher than other areas. The grassland and water along the Yellow River and in the vicinity of urban areas show strong stability, while the central areas of the CP and western and southern mountainous areas show poor stability. ELRS diversity shows a progressive spatial pattern from the complexity of the northwest to the homogeneity of the south. Elevation is the most important independent factor in controlling the structure of ELRS, followed by the external morphological structure of rural settlements, road density, and the rural population. Each of the natural and socioeconomic factor affects the structural feature index of ELRS to a different degree but shows a regular control direction. Generally, the ELRS structure in areas of complex topography, obvious urbanization, convenient transportation, and weakening agricultural status tends to be complex. Rural settlements with large populations and densities, small mean patch sizes, poor uniformity and regular shapes help ELRS show integrity and superiority but not stability or diversity. The results will make up for the shortcomings of the research in the field of rural human settlement environments and serve to improve the appearance and optimize the function of villages.

Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Pt Nanopeanuts.

Exploring the novel shape of Pt nanoparticles is one of the most useful ways to improve the electrocatalytic performance of Pt in fuel cells. In this work, the Pt nanopeanuts consisting of two nanospheres grown together have been fabricated through a two-step polyol method. The high resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectrum collected at adjacent part point out the Pt nanopeanut is apparently different from the two physical attached nanospheres. To understand the growth mechanism of this nanopeanut, the final products in different synthesis situations are studied. The results indicate the interesting morphology of Pt nanopeanuts mainly benefit from the chemical reagent (FeCl3) while the size and homogeneity are greatly affected by the temperature. Furthermore, the electrocatalytic activity of the Pt nanopeanuts has also been demonstrated here. Our two-step synthesis of Pt nanopeanuts not only enlarges the group of Pt nanoparticles, but also provides a beneficial strategy for the synthesis of novel metal nanoparticles.

Extraction of local coordination structure in a low-concentration uranyl system by XANES.

Obtaining structural information of uranyl species at an atomic/molecular scale is a critical step to control and predict their physical and chemical properties. To obtain such information, experimental and theoretical L3-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra of uranium were studied systematically for uranyl complexes. It was demonstrated that the bond lengths (R) in the uranyl species and relative energy positions (ΔE) of the XANES were determined as follows: ΔE1 = 168.3/R(U-Oax)(2) - 38.5 (for the axial plane) and ΔE2 = 428.4/R(U-Oeq)(2) - 37.1 (for the equatorial plane). These formulae could be used to directly extract the distances between the uranium absorber and oxygen ligand atoms in the axial and equatorial planes of uranyl ions based on the U L3-edge XANES experimental data. In addition, the relative weights were estimated for each configuration derived from the water molecule and nitrate ligand based on the obtained average equatorial coordination bond lengths in a series of uranyl nitrate complexes with progressively varied nitrate concentrations. Results obtained from XANES analysis were identical to that from extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) analysis. XANES analysis is applicable to ubiquitous uranyl-ligand complexes, such as the uranyl-carbonate complex. Most importantly, the XANES research method could be extended to low-concentration uranyl systems, as indicated by the results of the uranyl-amidoximate complex (∼40 p.p.m. uranium). Quantitative XANES analysis, a reliable and straightforward method, provides a simplified approach applied to the structural chemistry of actinides.

Screening and evaluation of biosurfactant-producing strains isolated from oilfield wastewater.

The six biosurfactant-producing strains, isolated from oilfield wastewater in Daqing oilfield, were screened. The production of biosurfactant was verified by measuring the diameter of the oil spreading, measuring the surface tension value and emulsifying capacity against xylene, n-pentane, kerosene and crude oil. The experimental result showed three strains (S2, S3, S6) had the better surface activity. Among the three strains, the best results were achieved when using S2 strain. The diameter of the oil spreading of the biosurfactant produced by S2 strain was 14 cm, its critical micelle concentration (CMC) was 21.8 mg/l and the interfacial tension between crude oil and biosurfactant solution produced by S2 strain reduced to 25.7 mN/m. The biosurfactant produced by S2 strain was capable of forming stable emulsions with various hydrocarbons, such as xylene, n-pentane, kerosene and crude oil. After S2 strain treatment, the reduction rate of oil viscosity was 51 % and oil freezing point reduced by 4 °C.

[Cigu Xiaozhi pills's influence on lipid peroxidation and TNF-alpha expression in liver tissues of rats with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Cigu Xiaozhi pills on expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in rat with nonalcoholic steatoheptatitis (NASH). METHOD: Fifty male SD rats were divided randomly into five groups: the normal group (n = 10), the model group (n = 10), the high dosage group (n = 10) and the little dosage group of the treatment (n = 10), Dongbao Gantai group (n = 10). Rats in normal control group were fed with standard diet. Rats in other four groups were established models of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and were treated simultaneously with traditional Chinese medicine and positive medicine. Histopathological changes in the liver were observed. The serum ALT, AST, TG, TC and hepatic MDA, SOD, GPX were detected histologically. The expression of TNF-alpha in the liver was determined using the immunohistochemical technique and RT-PCR. RESULT: In model group, extensive adipose degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration were found in the liver. In treatment groups steatohepatitis were markedly alleviated. Compared with model group, TG, TC, ALT, AST of the serum and MDA of liver tissue were reduced significantly, and SOD, GPX were increased significantly in treatment groups and positive control group (P < 0.05). TNF-alpha was not expressed almost in normal rat liver and was expressed highly in model rat liver. Compared with model group, the TNF-alpha mRNA and protein expression were significantly lower in liver of treatment groups and positive control group (P < 0.05). And the effects of high dosage group surpass than those of Dongbao Gantai group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TNF-alpha plays an important role in NASH pathogenesis. Cigu Xiaozhi pills can effectively treat experimental nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in rats, and its mechanism may be associated with ameliorating hepatocellular steatosis, removing the free radicals and enhancing the capability of anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory.