The effect of posterior cruciate ligament tibial avulsion fracture on functional outcomes in knees with concomitant ipsilateral lower limb fractures: a matched-cohort analysis.

BACKGROUND: At present, the optimal treatment for posterior cruciate ligament tibial avulsion fracture (PCLTAF) combined with concomitant ipsilateral lower limb fractures remains unclear. The present study aimed to assess the preliminary outcomes of treatment for PCLTAF with concomitant ipsilateral lower limb fractures by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of patients who sustained PCLTAF with concomitant ipsilateral lower limb fractures between March 2015 and February 2019 and underwent treatment at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Imaging examinations performed at the time of injury were applied to identify concomitant ipsilateral lower limb fractures. We used 1:2 matching between patients with PCLTAF combined with concomitant ipsilateral lower limb fractures (combined group; n = 11) and those with isolated PCLTAF (isolated group; n = 22). Outcome data were collected, including the range of motion (ROM) and visual analogue scale (VAS), Tegner, Lysholm, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores. At the final follow-up, the clinical outcomes were compared between the combined and isolated groups and between patients who underwent early-stage surgery and those who underwent delayed treatment for PCLTAF. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients (26 males, 7 females) were included in this study, with eleven patients having PCLTAF and concomitant ipsilateral lower limb fractures and a follow-up of 3.1 to 7.4 years (average, 4.8 years). Compared to patients in the isolated group, patients in the combined group demonstrated significantly worse Lysholm scores (85.7 ± 5.8 vs. 91.5 ± 3.9, p = 0.040), Tegner scores (4.4 ± 0.9 vs. 5.4 ± 0.8, p = 0.006), and IKDC scores (83.6 ± 9.3 vs. 90.5 ± 3.0, p = 0.008). Inferior outcomes were found in patients with delayed treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Inferior results were found in patients with concomitant ipsilateral lower limb fractures, while better outcomes were obtained in patients with PCLTAF through early-stage ORIF using the posteromedial approach. The present findings may help determine the prognoses of patients with PCLTAF combined with concomitant ipsilateral lower limb fractures treated through early-stage ORIF.

Some Thoughts on the Use of Predictive Probability in Clinical Trials.

In this short note, we express our viewpoint regarding declaring study success based on Bayesian predictive probability of study success.

Gaps of Medication Treatment Management Between Guidelines and Real-World for Inpatients With Type 2 Diabetes in China From Pharmacist's Perspective.

Background: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus remains high in China, and more cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events due to diabetes mellitus are likely to occur in the future. Objective: To analyze the gap between the current pharmacotherapy management and the guidelines for inpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from the perspective of pharmacists so as to provide a reference for optimal pharmacotherapy management methods and models for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional observational study. The study was conducted by investigating and analyzing the use of glucose-lowering drugs, adjustment of blood pressure management strategy, lipid management, weight management, and application of antiplatelet drugs in type 2 diabetes inpatients. Results: A total of 1086 patients with type 2 diabetes were included. Metformin, glycosidase inhibitors, and basal insulin were the most used among type 2 diabetes inpatients. The use of SGLT-2, GLP-1 RAs, DPP-4, and metformin all showed significant increase. SGLT-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) showed the fastest increase from 2020 to 2021 (14.5% vs. 39.6%); However, the application rate of SGLT-2i was low among patients with combined ASCVD, renal insufficiency, and diabetic nephropathy (46.4%, 40.9%, and 45.8% respectively). For patients with substandard blood pressure at admission, the average rate of intervention by endocrinologists for adjusting the antihypertensive regimen during hospitalization was 55.6%, and the application rate of ACEI/ARB drugs reached 64.4%. The application rate of statins among patients with type 2 diabetes was still relatively high, at 78.8%. However, the overall intervention rate for patients with suboptimal LDL-c was only 24.1%. The application rate of antiplatelet agents for patients with ASCVD was 77.6%, which was higher than that for patients without ASCVD. Conclusion: There is still a gap between the practice of medication treatment management of Chinese inpatients with type 2 diabetes and the guidelines, especially in the application of GLP-1RAs and SGLT-2i in patients with concomitant ASCVD, diabetic nephropathy, and renal insufficiency. Meanwhile, physicians and pharmacists should pay more attention on achieving blood pressure and LDL-c standards in type 2 diabetic patients and provide timely interventions.

Thoracic Spine Fractures with Blunt Aortic Injury: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Characteristics.

BACKGROUND: The coexistence of thoracic fractures and blunt aortic injury (BAI) is potentially catastrophic and easy to be missed in acute trauma settings. Data regarding patients with thoracic fractures complicated with BAI are limited. METHODS: The authors conducted a prospective, observational, single-center study including patients with thoracic burst fractures. A multivariate logistic regression model was developed to determine the risk factors of aortic injury. RESULTS: In total, 124 patients with burst fractures of the thoracic spine were included. The incidence of BAI was 11.3% (14/124) in patients with thoracic burst fractures. Among these patients, 11 patients with BAI were missed diagnoses. The main risk factors of BAI were as follows: Injury severity score (OR 1.184; 95% CI, 1.072-1.308; p = 0.001), mechanism of injury, such as crush (OR 10.474; 95% CI, 1.905-57.579; p = 0.007), flail chest (OR = 4.917; 95% CI, 1.122-21.545; p = 0.035), and neurological deficit (OR = 8.299; 95% CI, 0.999-68.933; p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BAI (incidence 11.3%) is common in patients with burst fractures of the thoracic spine and is an easily missed diagnosis. We must maintain a high suspicion of injury for BAI when patients with thoracic burst fractures present with these high-risk factors.

Cactus-Inspired Janus Membrane with a Conical Array of Wettability Gradient for Efficient Fog Collection.

Fog collection plays an important role in alleviating the global water shortage. Despite great progress in creating bionic surfaces to collect fog, water droplets still could adhere to the microscale hydrophilic region and reach the thermodynamic stable state before falling, which delays the transport of water and hinders the continuous fog collection. Inspired by lotus leaves and cactuses, we designed a Janus membrane that functions to both collect fog from the air and transport it to a certain region. The Janus membrane with opposite wettability contains conical microcolumns with a wettability gradient and hydrophilic copper mesh surface. The apexes of conical microcolumns are superhydrophobic and the rest are hydrophobic. The fog droplets were deposited, coalesced, and directionally transported to the bottom of the conical microcolumns. Then, the droplets unidirectionally passed through the membrane and flowed into the water film on the surface of the copper mesh. The asymmetric structural and wettability merits endow the Janus membrane with an improved fog collection of ∼7.05 g/cm2/h. The study is valuable for designing and developing fluid control equipment in fog collection, liquid manipulation, and microfluidics.

pH-Responsive Smart Wettability Surface with Dual Bactericidal and Releasing Properties.

Biomaterial-associated infections caused by pathogenic bacteria have important implications on human health. This study presents the design and preparation of a smart surface with pH-responsive wettability. The smart surface exhibited synergistic antibacterial function, with high liquid repellency against bacterial adhesion and highly effective bactericidal activity. The wettability of the surface can switch reversibly between superhydrophobicity and hydrophobicity in response to pH; this controls bacterial adhesion and release. Besides, the deposited silver nanoparticles of the surface were also responsible for bacterial inhibition. Benefiting from the excellent liquid repellency, the surface could highly resist bacterial adhesion after immersing in a bacterial suspension for 10 s (85%) and 1 h (71%). Adhered bacteria can be easily eliminated using deposited silver nanoparticles during the subsequent treatment of alkaline bacterial suspension, and the ratio of deactivated bacteria was above 75%. After the pH returned to neutral, the deactivated bacteria can be easily released from the surface. This antibacterial surface showed an improved bacterial removal efficiency of about 99%. The results shed light on future antibacterial applications of the smart surface combining both bactericidal and adhesion-resistant functionalities.

LINC00511/miRNA-143-3p Modulates Apoptosis and Malignant Phenotype of Bladder Carcinoma Cells via PCMT1.

Bladder cancer has easy recurrence characteristics, but its occurrence and development mechanism are still unclear. Non-coding RNA is a kind of RNA that exists widely and cannot be translated into proteins, which has played a key role in the regulation of biological functions of tumor cells. However, the regulation mechanism of non-coding RNA on bladder tumors is not fully understood. By microarray analysis and database analysis, we found that LINC00511 was significantly highly expressed in bladder cancer. The expressions of LINC00511, miR-143-3p, and PCMT in bladder cancer tissues and cells were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The relationship between the expressions of miR-143-3p and PCMT1 and the clinicopathological parameters of the tumor was analyzed. The proliferation and invasion of bladder cancer cells were detected by MTT assay and Transwell assay. The expression levels of E-cadherin and vimentin in bladder cancer cells were detected by Western blot. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. In vivo, TCCSUP or SW780 cells were inoculated into BALB/c nude mice to detect tumor volume and weight. Bioinformatics and dual luciferase reporter gene were used to analyze the relationship between LINC00511 and miR-143-3p and its downstream target gene PCMT1. The results showed that LINC00511 could target miR-143-3p/PCMT1 to regulate the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of bladder cancer TCCSUP or SW780 cells and promote the occurrence and development of bladder cancer.

A controllable oil-triggered actuator with aligned microchannel design for implementing precise deformation.

Soft actuators with the integration of facile preparation, rapid actuation rate, sophisticated motions, and precise control over deformation for application in complex devices are still highly desirable. Inspired by the aligned structures of moisture responsive pineal scales, an oil-triggered Janus actuator composed of a smooth hydrophobic surface and a superhydrophobic surface with aligned microchannels by simple laser etching was fabricated successfully, which can deform into various desirable shapes and recover to the original shape when triggered by oil and ethanol molecules. The aligned microchannel design causes different oil spread distances in the longitudinal and transverse directions, resulting in orientation-controlled bending and twisting with large-scale displacement. By changing the orientations of the patterned microchannels, one-dimensional folding deformation, twisting, rolling curling and object-inspired architectures can be facilely programmed. The reversible oil-triggered actuator will inspire more attractive applications such as in vivo surgery, biomimetic devices, energy harvesting systems and soft robotics.

Homogeneity assessment for pivotal medical device clinical studies.

A question that routinely arises in medical device clinical studies is the homogeneity across demographic subgroups, geographical regions, or investigational sites of the enrolled patients in terms of treatment effects or outcome variables. The main objective of this paper is to discuss statistical concepts and methods for the assessment of such homogeneity and to provide the practitioner a statistical framework and points to consider in conducting homogeneity assessment. Demographic subgroups, geographical regions, and investigational sites are discussed separately as each has its unique issues. Specific considerations are also given to randomized controlled trials, non-randomized comparative studies, and single-arm studies. We point out that judicious use of statistical methods, in conjunction with sound clinical judgment, is essential in handling the issue of homogeneity of treatment effect in medical device clinical studies.

Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract-761 on motor functions in permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion rats.

BACKGROUND: Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb-761) has been in use to treat variety of ailments including memory loss and emotional disorders usually experienced after ischemic stroke. However, data regarding its protective role in stroke associated motor dysfunction is scarce. PURPOSE: The present work was designed to investigate the long-term effects of EGb-761 on the motor dysfunctions associated with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) in rats. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: Focal ischemic stroke was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by pMCAO. These rats were orally administered with EGb-761 (25, 50, 100 mg/kg) and positive control butylphthalide (50 mg/kg) for up to 28 consecutive days. The motor function was evaluated by assessing neurological scores, rotarod performance and gait analysis after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. After 28 days, the histological examination of in frontal cortex and hippocampus was also carried out. RESULTS: EGb-761 treatment significantly improved motor function with better outcome in coordination and gait impairment rats. EGb-761 (25, 50, 100 mg/kg) treatment for 28 days significantly decreased the neurological scores. After 28 days of treatment EGb-761 (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly increased the latency in rotarod test, walk speed, and the body rotation, whereas, decreased the stride time and the left posterior swing length in gait were observed. EGb-761 (50, 100 mg/kg). EGb-761 (50, 100 mg/kg) significantly improved the pathological changes related to pMCAO. CONCLUSIONS: EGb 761 could improve motor function especially gait impairments among pMCAO rat model related to the decreased neuronal damage. Therefore, it might be the potential to be explored further as an effective therapeutic drug to treat post stroke motor dysfunctions.

Resolving neuroinflammation, the therapeutic potential of the anti-malaria drug family of artemisinin.

Artemisinin (Qinghaosu) and its semi-synthetic derivatives have been demonstrated to alleviate neuroinflammatory response in the central nerve system (CNS). In this review, we summarized that artemisinins are capable to treat neuroinflammtion-related CNS diseases in both direct (via regulating inflammatory process in the CNS, exerting anti-oxidative stress and neuroprotective effect, and preventing Aß accumulation) and indirect (via maintaining BBB integrity, suppressing systemic inflammation and alleviating intestinal inflammtion) manner. However, the precise mechanism of their anti-neuroinflammatory effects and potential neurotoxicity, which hindered further progress in these aspects, remains unclear. We suggest that further understanding of the PK/PD properties and structure-action relationship of atemisinin and its derivatives will facilitate the development of new therapeutics with better curative effects and safety.

Sex-Specific Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: FDA Patient-Level Meta-Analysis of Premarket Clinical Trials.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a less invasive alternative approach to surgery. Individual randomized clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of TAVR were mostly underpowered for conducting separate analyses for women and men. We pooled data from premarket TAVR clinical trials comparing short (30 days)- and long-term (∼2 years) outcomes by sex. METHODS: Patient-level data from the TAVR arms of six clinical trials were pooled (2515 patients). Random-effects models for time-to-event outcomes (odds ratios [ORs] for 30-day outcomes and hazard ratios [HRs] for complete follow-up for mortality, ischemic stroke, kidney injury, major bleeding, myocardial infarction, and device migration) and dichotomous outcomes (ORs for reintervention, rehospitalization, and pacemaker implantation) were then fit to directly compare outcomes between women and men. RESULTS: Overall, the pattern of individual comorbidities was more severe in men. There was no difference in mortality risk at 30 days (female-to-male OR = 1.00 [0.69-1.46]); however, at follow-up completion (∼2 years post-TAVR), women had a 24% lower mortality risk than men (HR = 0.76 [95% CI: 0.65-0.89]). Women also had a 30% lower risk of kidney injury at 30 days (OR = 0.70 [0.49-0.98]), which increased to 33% over the complete follow-up period (HR = 0.67 [0.51-0.87]). Major bleeding was more common in women compared to men at both 30 days (OR = 1.44 [1.19-1.76]) and long-term follow-up (HR = 1.22 [1.04-1.43]). For dichotomous outcomes, women had a 68% lower risk for reinterventions (OR = 0.32 [0.18-0.58]). We did not observe any difference in the risk of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, device migration, rehospitalizations, or pacemaker implantations between sexes. CONCLUSIONS: This patient-level data meta-analysis of six premarket clinical trials found that women who received TAVR had fewer comorbidities at baseline. Acute outcomes (30 day) with respect to mortality were similar. Women were observed to have a lower risk of kidney injury, but higher risk of major bleeding compared to men receiving TAVR at 30 days. At complete follow-up, statistically significant advantages for women emerged in improved survival and lower reintervention risk. No differences in ischemic stroke, pacemaker implantation, or rehospitalization were observed. That women are healthier at baseline and develop fewer postprocedural complications than men may explain their higher survival.

Antidepressant effects of dammarane sapogenins in chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depressive mice.

Depression is a common, dysthymic, and psychiatric disorder, resulting in enormous social and economic burden. Dammarane sapogenins (DS), an active fraction from oriental ginseng, has shown antidepressant-like effects in chronic restraint rats and sleep interruption-induced mice, and the present study aimed to further confirm the antidepressant effects of DS in a model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and to explore the underlying mechanism. Oral administration of DS (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) markedly improved depressant-like behaviors, increasing the sucrose intake in the sucrose preference test and reducing the latency in the novelty-suppressed feeding test, and decreasing the immobility time in both the tail suspension and forced swimming tests, compared with the CUMS mice. Biochemical analysis of brain tissue and serum showed that DS treatment restored the decreased hippocampal neurotransmitter concentrations of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and gamma-aminobutyric acid, and decreased the elevated of serum hormone levels (corticotrophin releasing factor, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, and corticosterone) induced by CUMS. Our findings confirm that DS exerts an antidepressant-like effect in the CUMS model of depression in mice, and suggest it may be mediated by regulation of neurotransmitters and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Hydroxyethyl starch resuscitation downregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines in the early phase of severe acute pancreatitis: A retrospective study.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 on serum pro-inflammatory variables, immunologic variables, fluid balance (FB)-negative(-) rate and renal function in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) patients. From October, 2007 to November, 2008, a total of 120 SAP patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. Fifty-nine patients in the HES group received 6% HES 130/0.4 combined with crystalloid solution for fluid resuscitation (HES group). In the control group, 61 patients received only crystalloid solution after admission. Interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels in serum were measured on days 1, 2, 4 and 8. The peripheral blood CD4+CD8+ T lymphocyte rates, serum BUN and Cr values were also measured on days 1, 4 and 8. Patients with FB(-) rates were recorded from day 1 to 8. Interaction term analysis (hospital stay and fluid resuscitation methods) based on mixed-effects regression model revealed significantly lower levels of IL-1 and TNF-α in the HES group compared with the control group. The difference in curve's risk ratio was not significant for IL-6, CD4+CD8+ T lymphocyte rate, BUN and Cr values (P>0.05). In the HES group, we detected a significantly higher rate of patients with FB(-) from day 4 to 8 (P<0.05). Thus, HES 130/0.4 resuscitation could decrease the IL-1 and IL-8 levels, shorten the duration of positive FB, and preserve the patient's immune status as well as renal function during the early phase of SAP.

Antidepressant-like effects and cognitive enhancement of the total phenols extract of Hemerocallis citrina Baroni in chronic unpredictable mild stress rats and its related mechanism.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Depression induce distressed emotional state and cognitive deficits simultaneously, which both should be improved in the treatment. Hemerocallis citrina Baroni (HC) is a traditional herbal medicine in Eastern-Asia areas and the total phenols extract of HC (HCPE) contains the main active ingredients. It has been reported that HC has the emotional improvement effect. But the cognitive effect of HC was seldom researched. AIM OF THE STUDY: We designed to evaluate the antidepressant and cognitive improvement effect of HCPE using a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model, and the potential mechanisms were explored by investigating the corticosterone (CORT), monoamine neurotansmitters, brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and oxidative stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The depression rats were induced by CUMS procedures and treated with HCPE (10, 20, 40mg/kg/day, by gastric gavage). The antidepressant effect was evaluated by sucrose preference test, open field test and body weight, while the cognitive improvement was investigated using morris water maze test. Besides, the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in the hippocampus and frontal cortex were measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The serum CORT and BDNF in hippocampus were test using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The oxidative stress indicators in frontal cortex were also analyzed. RESULTS: HCPE (40mg/kg) improved the emotion and cognition related behaviors in depression effectively. Moreover, HCPE increased the neurotransmitters concentration (5-HT, DA and NE) in the hippocampus and frontal cortex compared with CUMS rats. Meanwhile, the CUMS induced changes of serum corticosterone level and the hippocampus BDNF level were reversed. Besides, HCPE reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) in the frontal cortex of model rats. CONCLUSION: It suggested that HCPE could improve the depression-like emotional status and associated cognitive deficits in CUMS rats, which might be mediated by regulation of neurotransmitters and BDNF levels in brain, alleviation of corticosterone level as well as the alleviation of oxidative stress.

Implantation of radioactive (125)I seeds improves the prognosis of locally advanced pancreatic cancer patients: A retrospective study.

Locally advanced pancreatic cancer is associated with a very poor prognosis. This study was performed to evaluate whether patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer benefit from (125)I seed implantation. This retrospective study included 224 patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, with 137 patients (61.2%) in the implantation (IP) group and 87 (38.9%) in the non-implantation (NIP) group. The survival status, complications and objective curative effects were compared between the groups. The average operative time in the IP group was significantly longer than that in the NIP group (243±51 vs. 214±77 min). The tumor response rates were 9.5% and 0 at the 2nd month after surgery in the IP and NIP groups, respectively (P<0.05). The IP group exhibited a trend toward pain relief at the 6th month after surgery. The global health status scores of the IP group were higher than those of the NIP group at the 3rd and 6th month after surgery. The median survival time in the IP group was significantly longer than that in the NIP group. In conclusion, patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer can benefit from (125)I seed implantation in terms of local tumor control, survival time, pain relief and quality of life.

Minimally invasive percutaneous catheter drainage versus open laparotomy with temporary closure for treatment of abdominal compartment syndrome in patients with early-stage severe acute pancreatitis.

This study aimed to examine the clinical efficacy of minimally invasive percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) versus open laparotomy with temporary closure in the treatment of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) in patients with early-stage severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Clinical data of 212 patients who underwent PCD and 61 patients who were given open laparotomy with temporary closure in our hospital over the last 10-year period were retrospectively analyzed, and outcomes were compared, including total and post-decompression intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays, physiological data, organ dysfunction, complications, and mortality. The results showed that the organ dysfunction scores were similar between the PCD and open laparotomy groups 72 h after decompression. In the PCD group, 134 of 212 (63.2%) patients required postoperative ICU support versus 60 of 61 (98.4%) in the open laparotomy group (P<0.001). Additionally, 87 (41.0%) PCD patients experienced complications as compared to 49 of 61 (80.3%) in the open laparotomy group (P<0.001). There were 40 (18.9%) and 32 (52.5%) deaths, respectively, in the PCD and open laparotomy groups (P<0.001). In conclusion, minimally invasive PCD is superior to open laparotomy with temporary closure, with fewer complications and deaths occurring in PCD group.

[Inhibitory effect of cocoomyxa gloeobotrydifomis on benign prostate hyperplasia in aged rats and its action mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effect of cocoomyxa gloeobotrydifomis (CGD) on benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) in aged rats and its underlying mechanism. METHODS: Thirty SD male rats aged 21 months were equally randomized to three groups, aged control, low-dose CGD and high-dose CGD, the latter two groups fed on a diet with CGD at 50 and 100 mg per kg per d for 3 months, while the aged controls on normal laboratory chow. Another 10 3-month-old male rats were included in a young control group and fed on the same diet as the aged control rats. At the end of 3 months of CGD treatment, the prostates of all the rats were harvested and weighed. The histomorphological and interstitial changes of the prostatic tissue were observed by HE staining and Masson staining, respectively. The expressions of phosphorylated phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1), phosphorylated Akt (Ser 473) and phosphorylated PTEN in the rat prostate were determined by Western blotting. RESULTS: The wet weight and index of the prostate were significantly higher in the aged controls than in the young controls ([1 220 +/- 140] vs [550 +/- 60] mg, P < 0.01; 2.08 +/- 0.17 vs 1.94 +/- 0.10, P < 0.05). High-dose CGD significantly inhibited the increase in the prostatic wet weight and index of the aged rats ([1 080 +/- 97] mg and 1.85 +/- 0.16) as compared with the aged controls (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). The epithelium and interstitium, particularly the latter, were evidently thicker in the aged control than in the CGD-treated rats. The protein levels of phosphorylated PDK1 and Akt were significantly enhanced, while that of phosphorylated PTEN remarkably down-regulated in the aged rats as compared with the young ones. The expressions of phosphorylated PDK1 and Akt were significantly decreased, whereas that of phosphorylated PTEN markedly increased in both the low-dose and high-dose CGD groups. CONCLUSION: CGD can significantly inhibit BPH in aged rats through down-regulating the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Evaluation of third-order elastic constants using laser-generated multi-type ultrasound for isotropic materials.

Within the linear elasticity approximation the speed of a small-amplitude sound in conventional linear elasticity is determined only by the second order elastic (SOE) constants and the density of the medium. Subjecting the conveying solid to a static strain of a sufficient magnitude introduces the third-order elastic (TOE) constants in the equation of the sound speed. In this work we applied a homogeneous isotropic deformation caused by a thermal expansion of an aluminum alloy sample. Velocities of three acoustic modes: longitudinal, shear and Rayleigh waves were measured as functions of temperature within a range of 25-100 °C. Two TOE constants C111 and C112 were evaluated in an assumption that the third independent module C144 is far smaller than the former two.

[Accumulation and degradation of organochorine pesticides in shellfish culture environment in Xiamen sea area].

By using GC-ECD, the concentrations of organochlorine pesticides hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in the shellfish culture environment (sea water, sediments, and culture-shellfishes) in Xiamen sea area were analyzed, and the accumulation and degradation patterns of the HCH and DDT were preliminarily approached. In the sea area, there existed remarkable differences in the accumulation and degradation of HCH and DDT among different shellfish culture environments, being mostly associated with the habitation environment and physiological life habits of shellfish. The accumulated HCH isomers (Rx > 1) were mainly beta-HCH, delta-HCH, and gamma-HCH, whereas the degraded HCH isomers (Rx < 1) were mainly alpha-HCH. The ratio of alpha-HCH to gamma-HCH was less than or equal to 1.0, suggesting that the HCH was come from industrial HCH and lindane, most of the HCH had remained in the culture environment for a longer time, and a small amount of lindane was imported. The DDT in the sea water was aerobically degraded, its main degradation product was DDE, and the ratios of (DDD+DDE) to DDTs (p,p-DDE+p,p-DDD+o,p-DDT+p,p-DDT) was less than 0.5, whereas the DDT in sediments and shellfishes was anaerobically degraded, its main degradation product was DDD, and the ratios of (DDD+DDE) to DDTs was greater than 0.5, suggesting that there was a small amount of DDT newly imported in the sea water, and most DDT in sediments and shellfishes were already degraded and transformed into DDD and DDE. There were definite differences in the degradation rates of HCH isomers in the culture environment, suggesting the conformational change of HCH in its transformation processes in the shellfish culture ecosystem.