Ag-Modified ZnO Nanorod Array Fabricated on Polyester Fabric and Its Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalytic Performance by a Built-in Electric Field and Plasmonic Effect.

ZnO nanorod arrays (NRAs) were fabricated on polyester fabrics (PFs) by a two-step method and modified with Ag by magnetron sputtering. The photogenerated charge transport properties of the Ag/ZnO nanorod heterojunctions were studied by a self-made Kelvin probe system and a surface photovoltage (SPV) test system. The measured work functions (WFs) of the deposited Ag and ZnO nanorod are 4.67 and 5.56 eV, respectively. The SPV spectra indicate that the direction of the inner electric field is from the Ag layer to the inner of the ZnO nanorod. The enhancement of light absorption by the local surface plasma resonance (LSPR) effect of Ag/ZnO NRA was observed by Raman microspectroscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the Ag/ZnO NRA-functionalized PFs was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RB) solution under visible light. The full photo-oxidation of RB and the outperforming ZnO NRA-coated PFs demonstrate that the enhanced photocatalytic performance of Ag/ZnO NRA-coated PFs results from the cooperation of the inner electric field of the Ag/ZnO nanorod heterojunction and Ag LSPR.

Targeted disruption of the spermatid-specific gene Spata31 causes male infertility.

Spata31, a novel testis-specific gene, was first isolated from the testis of a vitamin A-deficient rat model. To gain insight into its physiological function, Spata31-targeted knockout mice were generated by homologous recombination. Spata31-deficient (Spata31(flox/flox) ; Vasa-Cre) male mice exhibited low sperm count and premature shedding of germ cells into the lumen, ultimately causing azoospermia and male sterility. Mechanistically, the Spata31 deficiency resulted in reduced expression of the adhesion protein nectin-3 and cytoskeletal protein ß-actin at the apical ectoplasmic specialization. Our findings demonstrate that the disruptions to the SPATA31 ortholog could be linked to human male infertility.

[The relationship between sleep quality and glucose level, diabetic complications in elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between sleep quality and glucose level, diabetic complications in elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A total of 130 hospitalized elderly type 2 diabetes in our hospital were included in the study. Questionnaires and other related clinical data were collected within one week after admission. Patients were divided into two groups: poor-sleeper group and good-sleeper group according to Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). RESULTS: Sixty percent (78/130) of these patients were poor sleepers. The following parameters differed in the two groups: the duration of diabetes [(7.9 ± 1.8) years vs (7.2 ± 1.5) years, t = 2.318], systolic blood pressure [(148 ± 30) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) vs (138 ± 23) mm Hg, t = 2.037], fasting plasma glucose (FPG) [(10.7 ± 2.2) mmol/L vs (9.8 ± 1.9) mmol/L, t = 2.410], hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) [(8.6 ± 2.2)% vs (7.8 ± 2.1)%, t = 2.068], high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) [(5.27 ± 2.34) mg/L vs (4.44 ± 1.76) mg/L, t = 2.179], ratio of diabetic complications (61% vs 32%, χ(2) = 4.257), percentage of depression (20% vs 8%, χ(2) = 3.722), score of life quality [(98 ± 19) scores vs (89 ± 13) scores, t = 2.980], and proportion of patients treated with insulin (32% vs 12%, χ(2) = 4.489). All the above parameters were significantly higher in poor-sleeper group than the good-sleeper group (all P value < 0.05). Multiple correlation analysis showed that the factors affecting sleep quality were FPG, HbA1c, duration of diabetes, diabetic complications, depression, life quality and insulin application (r = 0.213, 0.257, 0.223, 0.335, 0.422, 0.3451, 0.231, respectively; all P value < 0.05). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, the followings were found: FPG (ß = 1.29, P < 0.05) and PSQI (ß = 1.07, P < 0.05) were found to be correlated with HbA1c. With increasing of PSQI, FPG, HbA1c, diabetic complications and life quality were changed significantly (all P value < 0.05). The independent risk factors of diabetic complications were duration of diabetes (OR = 1.32, 95%CI 1.01 - 2.01), HbA1c (OR = 2.01, 95%CI 1.63 - 2.67), hs-CRP (OR = 1.12, 95%CI 1.08 - 1.21) and PSQI (OR = 1.71, 95%CI 1.58 - 2.02). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus are usually poor sleepers. Sleep quality probably affects blood glucose regulation, and is closely correlated with the occurrence of complications. In addition, poor sleep quality results in poor life quality.

[Placement of dual double-J stents following high-pressure balloon angioplasty for treatment of ureter-ileum bladder anastomosis stricture].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefit of placement of dual double-J stents following high-pressure balloon angioplasty for treatment of ureter-ileum anastomosis stricture after total bladder resection. METHODS: Seventeen patients (11 males and 6 females, mean age 56.65±6.28 years, 23 sides) undergoing total bladder resection were included in this study. Unilateral and bilateral ureteral stricture occurred postoperatively in 11 and 6 patients, respectively; 13 patients had ureter-ileum bladder anastomosis stricture after ileal bladder substitution, and 4 patients had ureter-ileum stricture after orthotopic construction of ileal neobladder. The control group consisted of 21 patients undergoing open surgery. RESULTS: In the double-J stenting group, the effective rate was 82.6% (19/23), similar to that of 85.7% (18/21) in the control group (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the stenting group showed a significantly reduced mean time of operation (87.42±10.35 min vs 34.12±7.52 min, P<0.05), intraoperative blood loss (203.16±32.67 ml vs 21.54±6.15 ml, P<0.05), and mean postoperative hospital stay (10.12±1.19 vs 3.24±0.35 days, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: As a safe and minimally invasive approach to the management of ureter-ileum bladder anastomosis stricture, placement of dual double-J stents following high-pressure balloon angioplasty produces a effect comparable with that of open surgery.

Treatment of benign ureteral stricture by double J stents using high-pressure balloon angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: Balloon dilatation angioplasty is a minimally invasive surgery for treating benign ureteral stricture. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of placing double J (D-J) stents using high-pressure balloon angioplasty in treating benign ureteral stricture. METHODS: A total of 42 patients (48 cases) with benign ureteral stricture (42 had benign ureteral stricture) were investigated by inserting dual D-J stents using high-pressure balloon angioplasty. The control group contained 50 patients (57 cases) employing the conventional balloon angioplasty with a single D-J stent inserted for comparison. RESULTS: The overall effective rate of the treated and control groups was 87.8% (36/41) and 62.7% (32/51), respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This new approach produces a better curative effect than the conventional balloon angioplasty with a single D-J stent insertion in treating benign ureteral stricture.

Deletion analysis of SMN1 and NAIP genes in Southern Chinese children with spinal muscular atrophy / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a disorder characterized by degeneration of lower motor neurons and occasionally bulbar motor neurons leading to progressive limb and trunk paralysis as well as muscular atrophy. Three types of SMA are recognized depending on the age of onset, the maximum muscular activity achieved, and survivorship: SMA1, SMA2, and SMA3. The survival of motor neuron (SMN) gene has been identified as an SMA determining gene, whereas the neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) gene is considered to be a modifying factor of the severity of SMA. The main objective of this study was to analyze the deletion of SMN1 and NAIP genes in southern Chinese children with SMA. Here, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was performed to detect the deletion of both exon 7 and exon 8 of SMN1 and exon 5 of NAIP in 62 southern Chinese children with strongly suspected clinical symptoms of SMA. All the 32 SMA1 patients and 76% (13/17) of SMA2 patients showed homozygous deletions for exon 7 and exon 8, and all the 13 SMA3 patients showed single deletion of SMN1 exon 7 along with 24% (4/17) of SMA2 patients. Eleven out of 32 (34%) SMA1 patients showed NAIP deletion, and none of SMA2 and SMA3 patients was found to have NAIP deletion. The findings of homozygous deletions of exon 7 and/or exon 8 of SMN1 gene confirmed the diagnosis of SMA, and suggested that the deletion of SMN1 exon 7 is a major cause of SMA in southern Chinese children, and that the NAIP gene may be a modifying factor for disease severity of SMA1. The molecular diagnosis system based on PCR-RFLP analysis can conveniently be applied in the clinical testing, genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis and preimplantation genetic diagnosis of SMA.

Hemodynamic changes in depressive patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed at exploring the relationship between hemodynamic changes and depressive and anxious symptom in depression patients. METHODS: The cardiac function indices including the left stroke index (LSI), ejection fraction (EF), heart rate (HR), diastolic pressure mean (DPM), systolic pressure mean (SPM), left ventricle end-diastolic volume (LVDV), effective circulating volume (ECV), resistance total mean (RTM) and blood flow smooth degree (BFSD) were determined in 65 patients with major depressive disorders and 31 healthy normal controls. The clinical symptoms were assessed with Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA). RESULTS: In patients with depression without anxiety, LSI, EF, LVDV, DPM, SPM, ECV, BFSD were significantly lower than those in controls, while RTM was higher than that in controls. Patients with comorbidity of depression and anxiety showed decreased LVDV, ECV, BFSD, and increased HR in comparison with the controls. The anxiety/somatization factor score positively correlated with LSI, EF, LVDV, but negatively correlated with RTM. There was negative correlation between retardation factor score and DPM, SPM, LVDV. CONCLUSION: The study indicated that there are noticeable changes in left ventricle preload and afterload, blood pressure, peripheral resistance, and microcirculation in depressive patients, and that the accompanying anxiety makes the changes more complicated.