Analysis of PAT1 subfamily members in the GRAS family of upland cotton and functional characterization of GhSCL13-2A in Verticillium dahliae resistance.

KEY MESSAGE: GhSCL13-2A, a member of the PAT1 subfamily in the GRAS family, positively regulates cotton resistance to Verticillium dahliae by mediating the jasmonic acid and salicylic acid signaling pathways and accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Verticillium wilt (VW) is a devastating disease of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) that is primarily caused by the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae. Scarecrow-like (SCL) proteins are known to be involved in plant abiotic and biotic stress responses, but their roles in cotton defense responses are still unclear. In this study, a total of 25 GhPAT1 subfamily members in the GRAS family were identified in upland cotton. Gene organization and protein domain analysis showed that GhPAT1 members were highly conserved. GhPAT1 genes were widely expressed in various tissues and at multiple developmental stages, and they were responsive to jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), and ethylene (ET) signals. Furthermore, GhSCL13-2A was induced by V. dahliae infection. V. dahliae resistance was enhanced in Arabidopsis thaliana by ectopic overexpression of GhSCL13-2A, whereas cotton GhSCL13-2A knockdowns showed increased susceptibility. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and JA were also increased and SA content was decreased in GhSCL13-2A knockdowns. At the gene expression level, PR genes and SA signaling marker genes were down-regulated and JA signaling marker genes were upregulated in GhSCL13-2A knockdowns. GhSCL13-2A was shown to be localized to the cell membrane and the nucleus. Yeast two-hybrid and luciferase complementation assays indicated that GhSCL13-2A interacted with GhERF5. In Arabidopsis, V. dahliae resistance was enhanced by GhERF5 overexpression; in cotton, resistance was reduced in GhERF5 knockdowns. This study revealed a positive role of GhSCL13-2A in V. dahliae resistance, establishing it as a strong candidate gene for future breeding of V. dahliae-resistant cotton cultivars.

Intramedullary nailing versus plating fixation for the treatment of midshaft clavicular fractures: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE: This study was to test the hypothesis that intramedullary (IM) nailing fixation of midshaft clavicle fractures could result in better clinical outcomes and lower complications rates than plating fixation. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library database were used to search all English language published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of midshaft clavicle fractures using plating versus IM nailing. The characteristics of the study participants were collected. Outcomes of postoperative shoulder functional measurements, operative data and complications rates were meta-analyzed. RESULTS: Eight hundred and ninety-five patients in ten RCTs and three quasi-RCTs were involved in the meta-analysis. The results of meta-analysis of these studies showed that the functional outcome evaluated by the Constant Shoulder and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores after accepting IM nailing was significantly better than that of plating fixation at one year post-operatively (P < 0.01), with the heterogeneity of 43% and 91%, respectively. Sensitivity analyses of the pooled results of Constant and DASH scores displayed that the functional advantage of IM nailing fixation comes from the subgroup of locked IM nailing. Further, regarding the operative statistics, operative time, blood loss and wound length were significantly less in the IM nailing group than the plating group (P < 0.001). The rates of infection, major complications and complications-related revision surgery were significantly higher in the plating group than the IM nailing group; however, there were no significantly statistical differences in other complications, e.g., nonunion, refracture after hardware removal, implant failure, symptomatic hardware, etc. (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The observations in this review suggested that IM nailing, especially locked IM nailing, could provide better shoulder functional outcome at one-year follow-up. Moreover, IM nailing fixation could effectively reduce operative time, blood loss, rates of infection, major complications, and revision surgery than plating. Further high-quality clinical trials with large samples and consistent designs are still needed to verify the long-term functional advantage of locked and unlocked IM nailing for midshaft clavicle fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Analysis of the PRA1 Genes in Cotton Identifies the Role of GhPRA1.B1-1A in Verticillium dahliae Resistance.

Verticillium wilt in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is primarily caused by Verticillium dahliae. Previous data suggest that prenylated RAB acceptors (PRAs) play essential roles in environmental plant adaptation, although the potential roles of PRA1 in cotton are unclear. Therefore, in this study, PRA1 family members were identified in G. hirsutum, and their roles in biotic and abiotic stresses were analyzed. Thirty-seven GhPRA1 family members were identified in upland cotton, which were divided into eight groups. Gene structure and domain analyses revealed that the sequences of GhPRA1 members in each group were highly conserved. Many environmental stress-related and hormone-response cis-acting elements were identified in the GhPRA1 promoter regions, indicating that they may respond to biotic and abiotic stresses. Expression analysis revealed that GhPRA1 members were widely expressed in upland cotton. The GhPRA1 genes responded to abiotic stress: drought, cold, salt, and heat stress. GhPRA1.B1-1A expression increased after V. dahliae infection. Furthermore, the functional role of GhPRA1.B1-1A was confirmed by overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana, which enhanced the resistance to V. dahliae. In contrast, V. dahliae resistance was significantly weakened via virus-induced gene silencing of GhPRA1.B1-1A in upland cotton. Simultaneously, reactive oxygen species accumulation; the H2O2, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid contents; and callose deposition were significantly decreased in cotton plants with GhPRA1.B1-1A silencing. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the biological roles of GhPRA1 proteins and provide candidate genes for cotton breeders for breeding V. dahliae-resistant cultivars.

Identification and expression analysis of arabinogalactan protein genes in cotton reveal the function of GhAGP15 in Verticillium dahliae resistance.

Verticillium wilt, primarily caused by the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae, is a serious disease in cotton. Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs), a class of hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins, have been widely implicated in plant growth and environmental adaptation. The purpose of this study is to identify and characterize AGP members in cotton plants and explore their roles in responding to environmental stressors. In total, 65 GhAGP members were identified in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), along with 43, 35, and 37 AGP members that were also identified in G. barbadense, G. arboreum, and G. raimondii, respectively. According to gene structure and protein domains analysis, GhAGP genes in upland cotton are highly conserved. Meanwhile, tandem duplication events have occurred frequently throughout cotton's evolutionary history. Expression analysis showed that GhAGP genes were widely expressed during growth and development and in response to abiotic stressors. Many cis-elements related to hormonal responses and environmental stressors were detected in GhAGP promoter regions. GhAGP genes participate in responding to cold, drought, and salt stress, and were sensitive to ET signaling. Furthermore, the expression level of GhAGP15 was elevated during V. dahliae infection and resistance against V. dahliae in upland cotton was significantly weakened by silencing GhAGP15 using a virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) approach. Our results further suggest that the function of GhAGP15 in V. dahliae resistance might be involved in regulation of the JA, SA, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathways. The comprehensive analysis of AGP genes in cotton performed in this study provides a basic framework for further functional research of these genes.

Evolutionary and Characteristic Analysis of RING-DUF1117 E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Genes in Gossypium Discerning the Role of GhRDUF4D in Verticillium dahliae Resistance.

Verticillium wilt, primarily induced by the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae, is a serious threat to cotton fiber production. There are a large number of really interesting new gene (RING) domain-containing E3 ubiquitin ligases in Arabidopsis, of which three (At2g39720 (AtRHC2A), At3g46620 (AtRDUF1), and At5g59550 (AtRDUF2)) have a domain of unknown function (DUF) 1117 domain in their C-terminal regions. This study aimed to detect and characterize the RDUF members in cotton, to gain an insight into their roles in cotton's adaptation to environmental stressors. In this study, a total of 6, 7, 14, and 14 RDUF (RING-DUF1117) genes were detected in Gossypium arboretum, G. raimondii, G. hirsutum, and G. barbadense, respectively. These RDUF genes were classified into three groups. The genes in each group were highly conserved based on gene structure and domain analysis. Gene duplication analysis revealed that segmental duplication occurred during cotton evolution. Expression analysis revealed that the GhRDUF genes were widely expressed during cotton growth and under abiotic stresses. Many cis-elements related to hormone response and environment stressors were identified in GhRDUF promoters. The predicted target miRNAs and transcription factors implied that GhRDUFs might be regulated by gra-miR482c, as well as by transcription factors, including MYB, C2H2, and Dof. The GhRDUF genes responded to cold, drought, and salt stress and were sensitive to jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and ethylene signals. Meanwhile, GhRDUF4D expression levels were enhanced after V. dahliae infection. Subsequently, GhRDUF4D was verified by overexpression in Arabidopsis and virus-induced gene silencing treatment in upland cotton. We observed that V. dahliae resistance was significantly enhanced in transgenic Arabidopsis, and weakened in GhRDUF4D silenced plants. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the RDUF genes in Gossypium, hereby providing basic information for further functional studies.

Evolution and Characterization of Acetyl Coenzyme A: Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase Genes in Cotton Identify the Roles of GhDGAT3D in Oil Biosynthesis and Fatty Acid Composition.

Cottonseed oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) and serves as an edible oil in human nutrition. Reports suggest that acyl-coenzyme A: diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGAT) and wax ester synthase/DGAT (WSD1) genes encode a key group of enzymes that catalyze the final step for triacylglycerol biosynthesis and enable an important rate-limiting process. However, their roles in oil biosynthesis and the fatty acid profile of cotton seed are poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify and characterize DGAT and WSD1 genes in cotton plants and examine their roles in oil biosynthesis, the fatty acid profile of cotton seeds, and abiotic stress responses. In this study, 36 GhDGAT and GhWSD1 genes were identified in upland cotton (G. hirsutum) and found to be clustered into four groups: GhDGAT1, GhDGAT2, GhDGAT3, and GhWSD1. Gene structure and domain analyses showed that the GhDGAT and GhWSD1 genes in each group are highly conserved. Gene synteny analysis indicated that segmental and tandem duplication events occurred frequently during cotton evolution. Expression analysis revealed that GhDGAT and GhWSD1 genes function widely in cotton development and stress responses; moreover, several environmental stress and hormone response-related cis-elements were detected in the GhDGAT and GhWSD1 promoter regions. The predicted target transcription factors and miRNAs imply an extensive role of GhDGAT and GhWSD1 genes in stress responses. Increases in GhDGAT3 gene expression with increases in cottonseed oil accumulation were observed. Transformation study results showed that there was an increase in C18:1 content and a decrease in C18:2 and C18:3 contents in seeds of Arabidopsis transgenic plants overexpressing GhDGAT3D compared with that of control plants. Overall, these findings contributed to the understanding of the functions of GhDGAT and GhWSD1 genes in upland cotton, providing basic information for further research.

The Oval-like Cross-section of Femoral Neck Isthmus in Three-dimensional Morphological Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the cross-section shape of the femoral neck isthmus (FNI) in three-dimensional reconstruction model of the femoral neck. METHODS: From December 2009 to December 2012, computed tomography (CT) data of bilateral hip joint from 200 consecutive patients (137 males and 63 females, 69.41 ± 9.21 years old, ranged from 50-85 years old) who underwent surgical treatments for proximal femoral fracture were retrospectively reviewed. The 3D model of the proximal femur was reconstructed, and the "inertia axis" method, which was applied to measure the long and short axes of the cross-section of the FNI, was established. The cross-sectional area and perimeter were calculated by a formula using the length of the long and short axes and then compared with the actual measured values by the software. Correlation between the descriptive parameters of the FNI cross-section (area, perimeter, and eccentricity) and patients' demographics (age, height, and weight) was analyzed. Stepwise linear regression analysis was used to determine the main relevant factors. RESULTS: The ICC results showed excellent data reproducibility ranged from 0.989 to 0.996. There was no significant difference in the cross-sectional area of the FNI between the actual measured values and the predicted values using the formula (732.83 ± 126.74 mm2 vs 731.62 ± 128.15 mm2 , P = 0.322). The perimeter using the two methods showed narrow while significant difference (97.86 ± 8.60 mm vs 92.84 ± 8.65 mm, P < 0.001), the actual measured values were about 5 mm greater than the predicted values. The parameters (area, perimeter, and eccentricity) were significantly larger in male than female (P < 0.001). A positive correlation between the cross-sectional area, perimeter, height, and weight was observed. The stepwise linear regression analysis showed that the regression equation of the FNI area was as follows: Y = -1083.75 + 1033.86 × HEIGHT + 1.92 × WEIGHT, R2 = 0.489. CONCLUSION: The cross-section shape of the FNI appears to be oval-like in the 3D model, which is separated according to the inertia axis, and the findings proposed an anatomical basis for the further study of the spatial configuration of cannulated screws in the treatment of femoral neck fractures.

[Biomechanical study on the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture of A3.3 type with medial sustainable nail and proximal femoral anti-rotation nail].

OBJECTIVE: A3 intertrochanteric fracture is an extremely unstable fracture, which is often treated with intramedullary nail, but the implant failure is common due to the posterior medial fragment cannot be reconstructed. A new medial sustainable nail (MSN-Ⅱ) which can reconstruct the femoral medial support by sustainable screw was introduced in this study. The mechanical effect was verified by biomechanical experiment. METHODS: The loss medial support model of intertrochanteric fracture (A3) was made by artificial Sawbones model, fixed with MSN-Ⅱ and PFNA-Ⅱ, underwent axial loading and axial failure tests. The axial stiffness, yield load, displacement of head-neck fragment and torsional angle of fracture site of these nails were recorded and compared for biomechanical differences. The effect of early reconstruction of medial support with MSN-Ⅱ was determined. RESULTS: The axial stiffness, yield load, the displacement of head and neck fragment when the axial load was 1 800 N and torsional angle of the fracture site after the axial failure test of MSN-Ⅱ were (222.76 ±62.46) N /mm, (4 241.71 ±847.42) N, (11.51 ±0.62) mm, (1.71 ±0.10)° respectively, while the PFNA -Ⅱ was (184.58±40.59) N /mm, (3 058.76±379.63) N, (16.15±1.36) mm, (2.52±0.26)°respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The axial stiffness of MSN-Ⅱ is better than that of PFNA-Ⅱ. The MSN-Ⅱ can bear more loads when fixed A3.3 intertrochanteric fracture and has greater axial and rotational stability. It is an effective means to reconstruct the medial support of A3 intertrochanteric fracture.

Medial support nail and proximal femoral nail antirotation in the treatment of reverse obliquity inter-trochanteric fractures (Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesfrogen/Orthopedic Trauma Association 31-A3.1): a finite-element analysis.

BACKGROUND: The reverse obliquity inter-trochanteric fracture is a distinct fracture pattern that is mechanically different from most inter-trochanteric fractures and the optional treatment of it is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare differences in the efficacy of a novel nail (medial support nail [MSN-II]) and proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA-II) in the treatment of reverse obliquity inter-trochanteric fractures (Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesfrogen/Orthopedic Trauma Association [AO/OTA] 31-A3.1) using finite-element analysis. METHODS: Modeling software was used to establish a three-dimensional model of MSN-II and PFNA-II and an A3.1 inter-trochanteric fracture model. Abaqus software was used to implement different force loads to compare finite-element biomechanical parameters such as the maximum stress in implant and the displacement of fracture site. RESULTS: The femoral stress, implant stress and fracture site displacement of MSN-II was less than that of PFNA-II. The results indicated that the maximal femoral stress was 581 MPa for PFNA-II and 443 MPa for the MSN-II. The maximum stress values in the PFNA-II and MSN-II models were 291 and 241 MPa, respectively. The maximal displacements of the fracture site were 1.47 and 1.16 mm in the PFNA-II and MSN-II models, respectively. CONCLUSION: Compared with PFNA-II for inter-trochanteric fracture (AO/OTA 31-A3.1), MSN-II which was designed with a triangular stability structure can provide better biomechanical stability. The MSN-II may be a feasible option for the treatment of reverse obliquity inter-trochanteric fracture.

Early Experience with Reduction of Unstable Pelvic Fracture Using a Computer-Aided Reduction Frame.

PURPOSE: The optimal closed reduction technique for unstable pelvic fractures remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to verify the effectiveness and report early experiences with the reduction of unstable pelvic fractures using a computer-aided pelvic reduction frame. METHODS: From January 2015 to August 2016, a total of 10 patients with unilateral unstable pelvic fractures were included in this study. The surgical reduction procedure was based on the protocol of the computer-aided pelvic reduction frame that we proposed in a previous work. The quality of the reductions achieved using this system was evaluated with residual translational and rotational differences between the actual and virtual reduction positions of pelvis. The duration of the operation was recorded for quality control. RESULTS: The mean times required to set up the frame, to complete the virtual surgery simulation, and to reduce the unstable pelvic fractures were 10.3, 20.9, and 7.5 min, respectively. The maximum residual translational and rotational displacements were less than 6.5 mm and 3.71 degrees, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This computer-aided reduction frame can be a useful tool for the speedy and accurate reduction of unstable pelvic fractures. Further clinical studies should be conducted with larger patient samples to verify its safety and efficacy.

Simultaneous silencing of GhFAD2-1 and GhFATB enhances the quality of cottonseed oil with high oleic acid.

Cottonseed oil has become an important source of edible oil due to its significant cost advantage. However, there is a growing concern over its fatty acid composition and nutritional value. In Gossypium hirsutum, GhFAD2-1 and GhFATB encoding the microsomal oleate desaturase and palmitoyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterase, respectively, play critical roles in regulating the proportions of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in cottonseed lipids. In this study, RNAi technology was used to simultaneously inhibit the expression levels of GhFAD2-1 and GhFATB to improve the quality of cottonseed oil by increasing oleic acid content. Transgenic cotton plants with reduced levels of both target genes were successfully generated. In mature seed kernels of transgenic plants, the content of oleic acid was 38.25%, accordingly increasing by 156.96%, while the content of palmitic acid and linoleic acid was 19.15% and 36.68%, decreasing by 21.28% and 33.92%, respectively, compared with that of the control. The total oil content in transgenic and control kernels was 22.48% and 29.83%, respectively. The reduced oil level in transgenic seeds was accompanied by a reduction in seed index, thereby causing disadvantageous effects on seed germination potentiality and seed vigor, particularly under cool stress conditions. Our results demonstrated the feasibility of simultaneous manipulation of multiple genes using RNAi technology and showed the important role of oil content in seed development and vigor. Our findings provide insight into the physiological significance of the fatty acid composition in cottonseeds.

Naringenin inhibits spinal cord injury-induced activation of neutrophils through miR-223.

Naringenin (NR), a flavonoid abundant in citrus fruits has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties. The present study aimed to investigate the protective of naringenin in rats after spinal cord injury (SCI) and the underlying mechanisms associated with neuroinflammation. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to laminectomy at T9-T11 and compression with a vascular clip. The spinal cords spanning the injury site about 0.8cm were collected for testing. There were five groups (n=7 in each group): (a) Control group; (b) sham group group; (c) SCI+saline; (d) SCI+NR (50mg/kg, p.o.) group and (e) SCI+NR (100mg/kg, p.o.) group. Different doses of NR (50mg/kg, p.o. and 100mg/kg, p.o.) or saline were administered once daily for 11 consecutive days, from 3days prior to surgery to 7days after surgery. The expression level of miR-223, NLRP3 and IL-1ß were measured by RT- qPCR. The accumulation of neutrophils at the site of compression, as evaluated by measuring the tissue myeloperoxidase activity, significantly increased with time following the compression, peaking at 24h post compression. The expression of miR-223 was significant elevated in (b). However, spinal cord myeloperoxidase activity and the expression of miR-223 did not increase in sham-operated animals. NR significantly inhibited a SCI-induced activation of neutrophils through repressed miR-223 in group (d) and (e). There was a better effect in group (e) than group (d). miR-223 is thought to act as a fine-tuner of granulocyte production and the inflammatory response. Our findings suggested that repeated administration of naringenin (100mg/kg, p.o) may provide the protective effect of the spinal cord injury in rats, possibly through inhibiting neuroinflammation.

Computer-aided pelvic reduction frame for anatomical closed reduction of unstable pelvic fractures.

Traditional closed reductions of unstable pelvic fractures are mainly performed by surgeons using manual manipulation and subjective verification based on intra-operative roentgenography. It is difficult to perform an accurate closed reduction because of a lack of adequate knowledge of the displacement patterns and an inability to apply the reduction in correct direction. Using the concept of the remote center of motion mechanism and computer-aided design software, we developed a pelvic reduction frame for use in anatomical closed reductions of unstable pelvic fractures. With three-dimensional reconstruction technique and the matrix algorithm, the spatial orientation of the displaced hemipelvis can be calculated and deconstructed into several rotational and translational movements that can be completed with the frame. To verify the accuracy of this system, the rotations were repeated 10 times in arbitrary degrees and directions. After the matrix is calculated, the displaced hemipelvis can be reduced to the anatomical position using our frame. The maximum residual translational and rotational displacements were less than 5 mm and 4 degrees, which indicated the accuracy of this system. The maximum average residual translation and rotation were 1.87 mm in Z-axis (ranging: 4.63-0.1 mm) and 1.1 degrees around Y-axis (ranging: 3.81-0.13 degrees), respectively. Only the Z-axial translation showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the proposed pelvic reduction frame could be a useful tool for the anatomical reduction of unstable pelvic fractures.

[Application of fluorescence spectra and parallel factor analysis in the classification of edible vegetable oils].

The fluorescence spectra of 22 samples of 8 kinds of edible vegetable oils (soybean oil, maize oil, olive oil, rice oil, peanut oil, walnut oil, sunflower oil and sesame oil) were measured with FS920 fluorescence spectrometer and the fluorescence matrixs (EEMs) were analyzed with parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis model. To synthesize the capabilities of material characterization and component identification, fluorescence spectra combined with PARAFAC fulfill the classification of vegetable oils. The map feature (peak position, peak value and peak number) was obtained by analyzing three dimensional spectra and con tour maps in the range of emission wavelength from 260 to 750 nm, and excitation wavelengths from 250 to 550 nm. The fluorescent substances (unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E and its derivatives, chlorophyll and carotenoid) corresponding to spectrum peaks were determined. The factor-number was selected and the components (vitamin E and its derivatives, linoleic acid and linolenic acid, fatty acid oxidation products, vegetable oil oxidation products) corresponding to each factor were ascertained. The four-factor excitation and emission profiles and projection score plots of PARAFAC model were plotted. Different vegetable oils can be characterized and distinguished with the map features of fluorescence spectra and sample projection plots of PARAFAC model. The results demonstrate the capability of the combination of fluorescence spectra technology and four-factor PARAFAC model for differentiating and characterizing vegetable oils.

Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous iron oxide for removal of H2S at medium temperatures.

A series of iron oxide sorbents with novel structures of three-dimensionally ordered macropores (3DOM), ranging in size from 60 to 550 nm, were fabricated and creatively used as sorbents for the removal of H2S at medium temperatures of 300-350 °C. Evaluation tests using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and a fixed-bed reactor showed that, in comparison to the iron oxide sorbent prepared by a conventional mixing method, the fabricated iron oxide sorbent with a 3DOM structure exhibited much higher reactivity and efficiency, as well as high sorbent utilization with low regeneration temperature. The excellent performance of 3DOM iron oxide as a sulfur sorbent is attributed to its special texture, i.e., the open and interconnected macroporous, large surface area, and nanoparticles of iron oxide, which are revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and nitrogen adsorption techniques. The investigation results of the pore effect on the performance of the sorbent show that sorbents with pores size around 150 nm in diameter revealed the best performance. The reason is that pores of this size are large enough to allow gas to pass through even if the channel is partially blocked during the reaction process while remaining a large surface area that can provide more active sites for the reaction.

[Effect of Chinese drugs for supplementing qi-blood and nourishing gan-shen on transforming growth factor beta1, and sex hormone levels in the follicle fluid of women during IVF-ET cycle].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Chinese drugs for supplementing qi-blood and nourishing Gan-Shen (CD) on transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF beta1) and sex hormone levels in the follicle fluid of women during in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycle. METHODS: Eighty-six women undergoing IVF-ET were randomly assigned to two groups, 45 in the CD group and 41 in the control group. All received the standard regimen for promoting ovulation, but to women in the CD group, 1-week treatment of Cuhuangti Granule was administered during the period of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) down-regulation, and Jinghou Zengzhi Granule was given from time of ovulation promoting with Gn to the day of HCG administration. On the day of oocyte retrieval, TGFbeta1 was detected using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), estradiol (E2), progestone (P), and luteinizing hormone (LH) detected by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Follicle fluid contents of TGFbeta1 and LH in the CM group (3.25 +/- 1.11 pg/L and 0.89 +/- 0.45 IU/L) were obviously higher than those in the control group (2.21 +/- 1.08 pg/L and 0.57 +/- 0.42 IU/L, both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chinese drugs for supplementing qi-blood and nourishing Gan-Shen could significantly improve TGFbeta1 and LH levels in the follicle fluid of women, thus enhancing the embryo implantation rate.