Combination of hyperthermia and intravesical chemotherapy for the treatment of pT1 stage bladder cancer: A retrospectively clinical study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficiency and safety of combined local bladder hyperthermia and intravesical chemotherapy (IVC) for the treatment of patients with pT1 stage bladder cancer. METHOD: A total of 189 patients with pT1 who underwent transurethral resection of bladder cancer (TURBT) were retrospectively reviewed. After TURBT, the patients with low-grade urothelial carcinoma (UC) were treated with either an IVC with pirarubicin (THP) protocol or chemo-thermotherapy (CHT) with THP protocol, whereas patients with high-grade UC were treated with either an intravesical immunotherapy (IVI) with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) protocol or CHT protocol, patients' characteristics, tumor biological features, and follow-up data were analyzed and compared between CHT and IVC group in low-grade UC, CHT, and IVI group in high-grade UC, respectively. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 24 months. In patients with low-grade UC, the median recurrence free survival (RFS) interval and costs of treatment in CHT group were significantly higher than those in IVC group (p = .01, p < .001, respectively), CHT was associated with higher RFS compared with IVC by Kaplan-Meier analysis, and three patients in IVC group upgraded to high grade when tumor recurred, whereas no cases were found upgraded in CHT group, p = .38. In patients with high-grade UC, tumor recurrence rates at 12 (p = .004) and 24 months (p = .004) after TURBT, rate of complications (p = .04)-especially for hematuresis (p = .03) and irritation symptoms (p = .04)-the median costs of treatment (p < .001) in CHT group were significantly lower than those in IVI group, RFS interval, health-related quality of life) at 12 and 24 months after TURBT in CHT group was significantly higher than those in IVI group (p < .001, p = .002, and p < .001, respectively), and CHT was associated with higher RFS compared with IVI by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The rate of patients upstaged to pT2 in CHT group seemed lower than that in IVI group, but there was no significantly statistical difference (14.3% vs. 24%, p = .58). CONCLUSION: CHT has a beneficial prophylactic effect in patients with pT1 bladder cancer, especially in patients with high-grade UC, which is much more effective and safer than BCG, meanwhile it costs less compared with BCG.

The values of HER-2 expression in the non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a retrospective clinical study.

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to evaluate the association between HER-2 expression and clinicopathological features in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Methods: Between 2019 and 2022, 204 patients treated with Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) were included in this study. Data of pathologic T (pT) stage, grades of the tumor, age, sex, tumor size and number of the tumors were collected and compared according to the expression level of the human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER-2). ROC curve analysis was performed to assess the discriminative ability of HER-2 expression for tumors grades and pT stage. Multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the association between HER-2 expression and tumor grades and pT stage. Results: Patients were divided into low grade (110, 53.9%) and high grade groups (94, 46.1%) according to the tumor grade. Pathologic stage consisted of pTa in 166 (81.4%) and pT1 in 38 (18.6%). HER-2 expression was semi quantitatively scored to 0 in 44 (21.6%), 1 in 58 (28.4%), 2 in 91 (44.6%), and 3 in 11 (5.4%) cases. HER-2 expression was significantly associated with tumor stages and histological grades, but not with sex, tumor size or number of tumors. The AUC for combination of HER-2 expression with tumor stages and histological grades was 0.652 (p < 0.003) and 0.727 (p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that HER-2 expression is associated with tumor stages and histological grades in NMIBC. It has diagnostic value for cystoscopic biopsy.

Carbon-Nitride Popcorn-A Novel Catalyst Prepared by Self-Propagating Combustion of Nitrogen-Rich Triazenes.

The interest in development of non-graphitic polymeric carbon nitrides (PCNs), with various C-to-N ratios, having tunable electronic, optical, and chemical properties is rapidly increasing. Here the first self-propagating combustion synthesis methodology for the facile preparation of novel porous PCN materials (PCN3-PCN7) using new nitrogen-rich triazene-based precursors is reported. This methodology is found to be highly precursor dependent, where variations in the terminal functional groups in the newly designed precursors (compounds 3-7) lead to different combustion behaviors, and morphologies of the resulted PCNs. The foam-type highly porous PCN5, generated from self-propagating combustion of 5 is comprehensively characterized and shows a C-to-N ratio of 0.67 (C3 N4.45 ). Thermal analyses of PCN5 formulations with ammonium perchlorate (AP) reveal that PCN5 has an excellent catalytic activity in the thermal decomposition of AP. This catalytic activity of PCN5 is further evaluated in a closer-to-application scenario, showing an increase of 18% in the burn rate of AP-Al-HTPB (with 2 wt% of PCN5) solid composite propellant. The newly developed template- and additive-free self-propagating combustion synthetic methodology using specially designed nitrogen-rich precursors should provide a novel platform for the preparation of non-graphitic PCNs with a variety of building block chemistries, morphologies, and properties suitable for a broad range of technologies.

The values of systemic immune-inflammation index and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in predicting testicular germ cell tumors: A retrospective clinical study.

Purpose: To determine whether complete blood count (CBC) based inflammatory parameters can be used as markers predicting testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT). Material and methods: Between 2013 to 2018 the data of 58 patients with testicular TGCT undergoing radical orchiectomy and 54 malignancy-free healthy men were retrospectively analyzed as tumor group and control group. Patient baseline characteristics including age, pathological stage and pre-surgery CBC based inflammatory parameters including neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), lymphocyte ratio (LR), neutrophil ratio (NR), mean platelet volume (MPV) and red cell distribution width (RDW) were analyzed and compared between tumor group and control group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used analyzing data with significantly difference to assess the discriminative ability of the markers for TGCT, area under the curve (AUC), cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. The binary logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between significant inflammatory markers and risk of TGCT. Results: Mean age of the tumor and control group was 41.1 ± 15.36 and 44.89 ± 9.2 years, respectively. Mean NLR, SII and RDW were significantly higher in tumor group compared with control group with P=0.005, P=0.001 and P=0.016, respectively; there were no significantly differences of age, PLR, LMR, LR, NR, MPV and RDW between groups. The ROC curve for NLR, SII and RDW was plotted in the diagnosis of TGCT and tumor progression, the cut-off value for NLR, SII and RDW were found as 3.38 (AUC: 0.704, sensitivity=51.4%, specificity=88.6%, P=0.003), 881.24 (AUC: 0.725, sensitivity=45.7%, specificity=91.4%, P=0.001) and 0.14 (AUC: 0.63, sensitivity=28.6%, specificity=97%, P=0.063), respectively. Patients were divided into two groups according to the threshold values, respectively. By using the multivariable logistic regression models, NLR ≥ 3.38 (OR, 5.86; 95% CI, 1.67-20.65, P=0.006) and SII ≥ 881.24 (OR, 4.89; 95% CI, 1.48-15.32, P=0.009) were independent risk factors predicting TGCT. Significantly statistical difference of pathological stage was also found between groups with respect to NLR cut-off values (P=0.034) and SII cut-off values (P=0.049). Combined the data together, NLR and SII both exhibited good differential diagnosis potential which could be used as markers predicting the TGCT. Conclusion: As the CBC based inflammation parameters, both NLR and SII could be used as effective tumor markers predicting the TGCT, and higher NLR and SII are associated with higher pathological stage. In addition, SII is a more powerful tool among these two inflammatory markers.

Cancer associated fibroblasts secreted exosomal miR-1290 contributes to prostate cancer cell growth and metastasis via targeting GSK3ß.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play crucial roles in mediating tumor growth and metastasis via transferring exosomes to neighboring cells, whereas the mechanisms by which CAFs regulate the tumorgenesis of prostate cancer (PC) remain largely unknown. In this study, CAFs and normal fibroblasts (NFs) were isolated from PC tissues and adjacent normal tissues, respectively. Exosomes (NFs-Exo and CAFs-Exo) were then isolated from the supernatant of NFs and CAFs. Next, the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) between NFs-Exo and CAFs-Exo were identified using RNA-sequencing. Cell viability, migration and invasion were detected with CCK-8 and Transwell assays. Protein expression was measured with western blot. We found that CAFs-Exo remarkably enhanced PC cell migration, invasion, stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. Significantly, miR-1290 level was upregulated in CAFs-Exo compared to NFs-Exo. In addition, CAFs could transfer exosomes to PC cells, resulting in a marked increase of miR-1290 level in cells. Moreover, exosomal miR-1290 could inhibit GSK3ß/ß-catenin signaling by binding with the downstream target GSK3ß mRNA. Meanwhile, miR-1290 antagomir notably reversed the effects of CAFs-Exo on PC cells through activating GSK3ß/ß-catenin signaling. Collectively, exosomal miR-1290 from CAFs could promote PC cell growth and metastasis via inhibiting GSK3ß/ß-catenin signaling, suggesting that miR-1290 may serve as potential therapeutic target for the treatment of PC.

The Values of Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Biochemical Recurrence in Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer After Radical Prostatectomy.

Purpose: To investigate the association between preoperative systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and oncological outcomes in localized prostate cancer (PCa) patients after radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods: Between January 2014 and December 2019, 291 patients with pathologically confirmed localized PCa who underwent RP were included in this study. The threshold values of SII and NLR for biochemical recurrence (BCR) were calculated according to Youden's index based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, then the patients were divided into two groups by the threshold values of SII and NLR, and the clinicopathological outcomes were analyzed and compared between groups, respectively. The binary logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between SII, NLR, and pathological outcomes including Gleason score (GS) and pathological T (pT) stage. Kaplan-Meier curves and univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were used to determine the association between high SII, high NLR, and BCR-free survival, respectively. Results: The median follow-up time was 48 months (IQR 36-62), and 114 (39.18%) patients developed BCR. The AUC of SII for BCR was 0.813 (P < 0.001), with a threshold value of 528.54, a sensitivity of 72.9%, and a specificity of 76.3%; the AUC of NLR for BCR was 0.824 (P < 0.001), with a threshold value of 2.62, a sensitivity of 71.2%, and a specificity of 81.6%. Patients were divided into two groups according to the threshold values of SII and NLR, respectively. Patients in the high SII group had higher tPSA, GS, pT stage, and BCR rate than patients in the low SII group (P = 0.004, 0.04, 0.007, and <0.001, respectively), and patients in the high NLR group had higher tPSA, GS, pT stage, and BCR rate than patients in the low NLR group (P = 0.04, 0.02, 0.006, and <0.001, respectively). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that high SII was significantly correlated with adverse pathological outcomes of GS (HR, 1.656; 95% CI, 1.00-2.742, P = 0.042) and pT stage (HR, 1.478; 95% CI, 0.972-3.64, P = 0.028); there was no association between high NLR and pathological events. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed significantly poorer BCR-free survival in patients with high SII or high NLR (P < 0.001 and <0.001, respectively). By using the multivariable Cox regression model, high SII (HR, 4.521; 95% CI, 2.262-9.037, P < 0.001) and high NLR (HR, 4.787; 95% CI, 2.339-9.798, P < 0.001) were both significant predictors of BCR after RP. Conclusion: High SII was significantly related to unfavorable clinicopathological outcomes. High preoperative SII and NLR were related to higher BCR rate in localized PCa after RP, and they were all independent risk factors associated with shorter BCR-free survival. These two factors might provide promising and inexpensive methods for predicting clinical outcomes in patients with RP.

Role of inflammatory factors in prediction of Gleason score and its upgrading in localized prostate cancer patients after radical prostatectomy.

Purpose: To investigate the role of inflammatory factors including systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting Gleason Score (GS) and Gleason Score upgrading (GSU) in localized prostate cancer (PCa) after radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods: The data of 297 patients who underwent prostate biopsy and RP in our center from January 2014 to March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative clinical characteristics including age, values of tPSA, total prostate volume (TPV), f/t PSA ratio, body mass index (BMI), biopsy GS and inflammatory factors including SII, NLR, lymphocyte to monocyte (LMR), neutrophil ratio (NR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte ratio (LR), mean platelet volume (MPV) and red cell distribution (RDW) as well as pathological T (pT) stage were collected and compared according to the grades of RP GS (GS ≤ 6 and GS≥7), respectively. ROC curve analysis was used to confirm the discriminative ability of inflammatory factors including SII, NLR and their combination with tPSA for predicting GS and GSU. By using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, the association between significant inflammatory markers and grades of GS were evaluated. Results: Patients enrolled were divided into low (GS ≤ 6) and high (GS≥7) groups by the grades of GS. The median values of clinical factors were 66.08 ± 6.04 years for age, 36.62 ± 23.15 mL for TPV, 26.16 ± 33.59 ng/mL for tPSA and 0.15 ± 0.25 for f/t PSA ratio, 22.34 ± 3.14 kg/m2 for BMI, 15 (5.1%) were pT1, 116 (39.1%) were pT2 and 166 (55.9%) were pT3. According to the student's t test, patients in high GS group had a greater proportion of patients with pT3 (P<0.001), and higher NLR (P=0.04), SII (P=0.037) and tPSA (P=0.015) compared with low GS group, the distribution of age, TPV, f/t PSA ratio, BMI, LMR, NR, PLR, LR, MPV and RDW did not show any significantly statistical differences. The AUC for SII, NLR and tPSA was 0.732 (P=0.007), 0.649 (P=0.045) and 0.711 (P=0.015), with threshold values of 51l.08, 2.3 and 10.31ng/mL, respectively. According to the multivariable logistic regression models, NLR ≥ 2.3 (OR, 2.463; 95% CI, 0.679-10.469, P=0.042), SII ≥ 511.08 (OR, 3.519; 95% CI 0.891-12.488; P=0.003) and tPSA ≥ 10.31 ng/mL (OR, 4.146; 95% CI, 1.12-15.35; P=0.033) were all independent risk factors associated with higher GS. The AUC for combination of SII, NLR with tPSA was 0.758 (P=0.003) and 0.756 (P=0.003), respectively. GSU was observed in a total of 48 patients with GS ≤ 6 (55.17%). Then patients were divided into 2 groups (high and low) according to the threshold value of SII, NLR, tPSA, SII+tPSA and NLR+tPSA, respectively, when the GSU rates were compared with regard to these factors, GSU rate in high level group was significantly higher than that in low level group, P=0.001, 0.044, 0.017, <0.001 and <0.001, respectively. Conclusion: High SII, NLR and tPSA were associated with higher GS and higher GSU rate. SII was likely to be a more favorable biomarker for it had the largest AUC area compared with tPSA and NLR; the combination of SII or NLR with tPSA had greater values for predicting GS and GSU compared with NLR, SII or tPSA alone, since the AUC area of combination was much higher. SII, NLR were all useful inflammatory biomarkers for predicting GS and detecting GSU among localized PCa patients with biopsy GS ≤ 6.

Response to "What Shall We Do with Computed Detonation Performance? Comment on '1,3,4-Oxadiazole Bridges: A Strategy to Improve Energetics at the Molecular Level'".

The values obtained for detonation performance are a function of the computational methods utilized. Since there are many such methods, the literature may contain a range of values for a single compound.

The Values of Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio in the Localized Prostate Cancer and Benign Prostate Hyperplasia: A Retrospective Clinical Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic values of systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: Between January 2014 and December 2019, 117 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and 278 patients with localized PCa who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) were included in this study. The inflammatory markers including SII, NLR, platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), lymphocyte ratio (LR), neutrophil ratio (NR), mean platelet volume (MPV), and red cell distribution (RDW) of these two groups were examined and analyzed. ROC curve analysis was performed to assess the discriminative ability of inflammatory markers and their combination with tPSA for PCa. The binary logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between significant inflammatory markers and risk of PCa. RESULTS: The pathological results from RP specimen comprised 72 (25.90%) patients with pT1, 168 (60.43%) patients with pT2, and 38 (13.67%) patients with pT3. According to Student's t test, patients with PCa had higher NLR (p = 0.034), SII (p = 0.008), and NR (p = 0.004), and lower LR (p = 0.025), MPV (p = 0.003), and TPV (p = 0.022) compared with patients with BPH; the distribution of age, PLR, LMR, RDW, f/t PSA ratio, and BMI did not show any significant differences. The AUC for NLR, SII, NR, and tPSA was 0.697 (p = 0.015), 0.719 (p < 0.001), 0.647 (p = 0.009), and 0.708 (p < 0.001), with threshold values of 1.6, 471.86, 65.15%, and 12.89 ng/ml, respectively. Patients were divided into two groups according to the threshold values, respectively. By using the multivariable logistic regression models, NLR ≥ 1.6 (OR, 2.731; 95% CI, 0.937-7.961, p = 0.042), SII ≥ 471.86 (OR, 1.274; 95% CI 0.473-3.433; p = 0.033), and PSA ≥ 12.89 ng/ml (OR, 1.443; 95% CI, 0.628-3.944; p = 0.014) were independent risk factors associated with PCa. The AUC for combination of NLR, SII, and NR with tPSA was 0.705 (p < 0.001), 0.725 (p < 0.001), and 0.704 (p < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that SII, NLR, and NR were all independent risk factors of PCa. These factors alone could provide better screen methods for PCa before biopsy. In addition, SII is a more powerful tool among these three inflammatory markers associated with PCa. Besides, combination of SII and NLR with tPSA had not much advantage compared with themselves alone.

1,3,4-Oxadiazole Bridges: A Strategy to Improve Energetics at the Molecular Level.

Many energetic materials synthesized to date have limited applications because of low thermal and/or mechanical stability. This limitation can be overcome by introducing structural modifications such as a bridging group. In this study, a series of 1,3,4-oxadiazole-bridged furazans was prepared. Their structures were confirmed by 1 H and 13 C NMR, infrared, elemental, and X-ray crystallographic analyses. The thermal stability, friction sensitivity, impact sensitivity, detonation velocity, and detonation pressure were evaluated. The hydroxylammonium salt 8 has an excellent detonation performance (D=9101 m s-1 , P=37.9 GPa) and insensitive properties (IS=17.4 J, FS=330 N), which show its great potential as a high-performance insensitive explosive. Using quantum computation and crystal structure analysis, the effect of the introduction of the 1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety on molecular reactivity and the difference between the sensitivities and thermal stabilities of mono- and bis-1,3,4-oxadiazole bridges are considered. The synthetic method for introducing 1,3,4-oxadiazole and the systematic study of 1,3,4-oxadiazole-bridged compounds provide a theoretical basis for future energetics design.

gem-Dinitromethyl-Functionalized 5-Amino-1,3,4-oxadiazolate Derivatives: Alternate Route, Characterization, and Property Analysis.

A new, safer, and more cost-effective methodology to synthesize salts based on gem-dinitromethyl-functionalized 5-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazolate is given. Cyclization, deprotection, nitration, and neutralization reactions were conducted to obtain products in high yield. All compounds were fully characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. Crystal structure analysis, property tests, and theoretical calculations confirm good detonation performance and high mechanical stabilities of the salts.

A novel energetic framework combining the advantages of furazan and triazole: a design for high-performance insensitive explosives.

A series of tetracyclic furazan-triazole compounds have been synthesized and fully characterized. The predicted detonation performance and tested mechanical sensitivities showed their high-energy performance and insensitive features. Quantum chemical calculations and crystal structure analysis were applied to study the intrinsic structure-property relationship among these compounds. In addition, the detonation test shows their promising potential as secondary explosives.

Energetic Derivatives of 8-Nitropyrazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazine-2,4,7-triamine: Achieving Balanced Explosives by Fusing Pyrazole with Triazine.

Using the triazine ring as the stabilizing factor, a series of energy-safety balanced fused ring compounds were successfully studied. Compounds 1, 7, and 9·H2O were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The detonation performance and safety parameters associated with impact and friction sensitivities were investigated by using EXPLO5 (version 6.01) and BAM methods, respectively. Based on their good detonation properties and high thermal and mechanical stabilities, these materials are potentially high performance insensitive explosives.

Versatile functionalization of 3,5-diamino-4-nitropyrazole for promising insensitive energetic compounds.

Variation of functional groups offers an efficient approach for tuning properties of materials such as thermal stability, and detonation performance while improving sensitivities to mechanical stimuli. Now versatile functionalization of 3,5-diamino-4-nitropyrazole involving the introduction of a tetrazole ring, or a guanyl group, or ring expansion is described. All of the compounds were fully characterized and some of them (2, 9 and 13) were verified by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Based on their good thermal stabilities and high detonation performance as well as insensitive properties, they are potentially insensitive energetic compounds.

Polynitro-Functionalized Triazolylfurazanate Triaminoguanidine: Novel Green Primary Explosive with Insensitive Nature.

Exploring a green and safe primary explosive to replace very toxic and sensitive lead azide and lead styphnate takes great efforts. Here, a series of polynitro-functionalized triazolylfurazanate energetic materials have been reported. These new compounds were fully characterized by infrared, multinuclear NMR spectra, mass spectra, elemental analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. The structure of mono-diaminoguanidinium salt (17) was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Inspired by the high pressurization rate and fast energy release in triaminoguanidinium salts, some suitability evaluation for primary explosives has been applied. Di(triaminoguanidinium) 3-nitramino-4-(3-(dinitromethanidyl)-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl)furazanate exhibits an excellent gas-generating capability (Pmax = 9.03 Mpa) and combustion performance (dP/dtmax = 201.5 GPa s-1) close to fast thermite Al/CuO (Pmax = 8.49 Mpa, dP/dtmax = 252.2 GPa s-1). Moreover, the good initiation capacity (60 mg for 500 mg RDX) coupled with insensitivity in this compound (IS = 17.4 J, FS = 240 N, ESD > 0.225 J) make it a promising green and insensitive primary explosive.

2-Fluoro-1,3-diamino-4,6-dinitrobenzene (ZXC-7) and 2-Fluoro-1,3,5-triamino-4,6-dinitrobenzene (ZXC-8): Thermally Stable Explosives with Outstanding Properties.

Two novel, thermally stable explosives, 2-fluoro-1,3-diamino-4,6-dinitrobenzene (ZXC-7) and 2-fluoro-1,3,5-triamino-4,6-dinitrobenzene (ZXC-8), are reported. These two compounds can be prepared by means of simple synthetic methods and they show outstanding properties (detonation velocity, detonation pressure, sensitivity toward mechanical stimuli, and temperature of decomposition). Their structures are very similar to that of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB). They were isolated and characterized by means of mass spectrometry and multinuclear (1 H, 13 C) NMR spectroscopy. The structure of ZXC-7 in the crystalline state was determined by low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction. From the calculated standard molar enthalpy of formation (CBS-4 M) and the densities (which were determined by a gas pycnometer), the Chapman-Jouguet detonation properties were predicted by using the EXPLO5 V6.01 thermochemical computer code. The sensitivities of ZXC-7 and ZXC-8 towards impact and friction were determined.

Amino-nitramino functionalized triazolotriazines: a good balance between high energy and low sensitivity.

Using a simple and efficient approach, a series of fused triazolo-triazine compounds, namely, 2,5-dinitramide-7-amino-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazine (2) and its energetic salts (4-9, 11-13), were prepared by nitration of 2,5,7-triamine [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazine (1) with 100% nitric acid, followed by reacting with the corresponding bases. All new compounds were comprehensively characterized. Structures of 2 and 4 were further confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Based on the measured densities and calculated heats of formation (Gaussian 09), detonation pressures and velocities were evaluated by EXPLO5, falling in the range of 21.5-34.2 GPa and 7823-9313 m s-1, respectively. Notably, impact and friction tests show that these compounds are very insensitive (IS > 40 J; FS > 360 N). Moreover, two representative compounds 5 and 6 with high decomposition temperature (5: 194 °C; 6: 199 °C), excellent detonation properties (vD = 9313, 9088 m s-1; P = 33.9, 34.1 GPa) as well as rarely low sensitivities (IS > 40 J; FS > 360 N) are promising candidates as high-energy and insensitive explosives.

A 12-year follow-up study of combined treatment of post-severe acute respiratory syndrome patients with femoral head necrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term efficacy of a combination treatment of alendronate, extracorporeal shock and hyperbaric oxygen for osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) of post-severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The retrospective study was performed including a total of 37 post-SARS ONFH patients (66 hip joints) in the Department of Orthopedics of the General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University between November 2003 and November 2015, consisting of 6 males (11 hip joints) and 31 females (55 hip joints), with age between 19 and 47 years (average 29.9 years). Visual analog scale (VAS) score, Harris score and Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) stage of imaging examination were compared among those before treatment, and at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 years after treatment. Paired t-test was used for statistical analysis of VAS and Harris score before and after treatment. Difference of effective rate on all stages was analyzed with Chi-square test. RESULTS: With 12-year follow-up, significant improvements on VAS (6.81 of pre-treatment vs 3.94 of 12-year post-treatment) and Harris score (74.54 of pre-treatment vs 80.14 of 12-year post-treatment) were observed (all p<0.05). Effective rate showed statistical significance among three stages of ARCO (p<0.05). The combined treatment showed different efficacies on different ARCO stages; the best was on ARCO Phase I. CONCLUSION: The combined treatment may delay or discontinue the development of ONFH in post-SARS patients.

[Toxoplasma gondii Infection in HIV-infected Individuals in Henan Province].

Genomic DNA was extracted from 1 038 peripheral blood samples from HIV-infected individuals in Henan Province. One-step single-tube nested PCR was performed to amplify the 529 bp repeating sequences of Toxoplasma gondii. Of the 1 038 samples （762 from males and 276 from females）, 66 showed positive PCR results, with a positive rate of 6.4%. The PCR positive rate in males and females was 6.3% （48/762） and 6.5% （18/276） respectively. The PCR positive rate in the married HIV individuals was 4.9%（25/508）, and that in unmarried, divorced and widowed HIV individuals was 7.7% （41/530）（χ2 = 3.451, P> 0.05）. The PCR positive rate in HIV individuals with a high-school educational level or above was 6.9%（34/489）, and that in those below the high-school level was 5.8% （32/549）（χ2 = 0.545, P> 0.05）. The highest infection rate was in the age group of 20-40 years（7.6%, 31/410）. In addition, the Toxoplasma infection rate in those with and without a history of venereal diseases, and those with an unknown history was 8.0%（9/113）, 6.5%（50/773） and 4.6%（7/152） respectively （χ2 = 0.355, P> 0.05）.