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Background: Despite the efficacy of absolute ethanol (EtOH), its radiolucency introduces several risks in interventional therapy for treating vascular malformations. This study aims to develop a novel radiopaque ethanol injection (REI) to address this issue., Methods: Iopromide is mixed with ethanol to achieve radiopacity and improve the physicochemical properties of the solution. Overall, 82 male New Zealand white rabbits are selected for in vivo radiopacity testing, peripheral vein sclerosis [animals were divided into the following 5 groups (n = 6): negative control (NC, saline, 0.250 ml/kg), positive control (EtOH, 0.250 ml/kg), low-dose REI (L-D REI, 0.125 ml/kg), moderate-dose REI (M-D REI, 0.250 ml/kg), and high-dose REI (H-D REI 0.375 ml/kg)], pharmacokinetic analyses (the blood sample was harvested before injection, 5 min, 10 min, 20 min, 40 min, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, and 8 h after injection in peripheral vein sclerosis experiment), peripheral artery embolization [animals were divided into the following 5 groups (n = 3): NC (saline, 0.250 ml/kg), positive control (EtOH, 0.250 ml/kg), L-D REI (0.125 ml/kg), M-D REI (0.250 ml/kg), and H-D REI (0.375 ml/kg)], kidney transcatheter arterial embolization [animals were divided into the following 4 groups (n = 3): positive control (EtOH, 0.250 ml/kg), L-D REI (0.125 ml/kg), M-D REI (0.250 ml/kg), and H-D REI (0.375 ml/kg); each healthy kidney was injected with saline as negative control], and biosafety evaluations [animals were divided into the following 5 groups (n = 3): NC (0.250 ml/kg), high-dose EtOH (0.375 ml/kg), L-D REI (0.125 ml/kg), M-D REI (0.250 ml/kg), and H-D REI (0.375 ml/kg)]. Then, a prospective cohort study involving 6 patients with peripheral venous malformations (VMs) is performed to explore the clinical safety and effectiveness of REI. From Jun 1, 2023 to August 31, 2023, 6 patients [age: (33.3 ± 17.2) years] with lingual VMs received sclerotherapy of REI and 2-month follow-up. Adverse events and serious adverse events were evaluated, whereas the efficacy of REI was determined by both the traceability of the REI under DSA throughout the entire injection and the therapeutic effect 2 months after a single injection., Results: The REI contains 81.4% ethanol (v/v) and 111.3 mg/ml iodine, which can be traced throughout the injection in the animals and patients. The REI also exerts a similar effect as EtOH on peripheral venous sclerosis, peripheral arterial embolization, and renal embolization. Furthermore, the REI can be metabolized at a similar rate compared to EtOH and Ultravist® and did not cause injury to the animals' heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys and brain. No REI-related adverse effects have occurred during sclerotherapy of VMs, and 4/6 patients (66.7%) have achieved complete response at follow-up., Conclusion: In conclusion, REI is safe, exerts therapeutic effects, and compensates for the radiolucency of EtOH in treating VMs., Trial Registration: The clinical trial was registered as No. ChiCTR2300071751 on May 24 2023., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Neutrophils are important participants in the innate immune response. They rapidly and efficiently identify and clear infectious agents by expressing large numbers of membrane receptors. Upon tissue injury or pathogen invasion, neutrophils are the first immune cells to reach the site of injury and participate in the inflammatory response., Materials and Methods: A thorough search on PubMed related to neutrophil death or clearance pathways was performed., Conclusion: Inflammatory response and tissue damage can be aggravated when neutrophils are not removed rapidly from the site of injury. Recent studies have shown that neutrophils can be cleared through a variety of pathways, including non-inflammatory and inflammatory death, as well as reverse migration. Non-inflammatory death pathways include apoptosis and autophagy. Inflammatory death pathways include necroptosis, pyroptosis and NETosis. This review highlights the basic properties of neutrophils and the impact of their clearance pathways on the inflammatory response., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The traditional RFID reader module relies on a discrete original design. This design integrates a microcontroller, high-frequency RFID reader IC and other multiple chips onto a PCB board, leading to bottlenecks in cost, power consumption, stability and reliability. To align with the trend towards high integration, miniaturization and low power consumption in RFID reader, this paper introduces a fully integrated RFID Reader SoC. The SoC employs the open-source Cortex-M0 core to integrate the RF transceiver, analog circuits, baseband protocol processing, memory and interface circuits into one chip. It's compatible with ISO/IEC 14443 A-type and B-type and ISO/IEC 15693 transmission protocols and rates. Manufactured using a 0.18 μm process, the chip is compatible with multiple standards. The optimized design of the digital baseband control circuit results in a chip area of only 11.95 mm2 offering clear advantages in both area and integration compared to similar work.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of interventional embolization in the treatment of frontal arteriovenous malformation (AVM)., Methods: A retrospective study was used to analyze 9 patients with frontal AVM who were treated in Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. The patients were treated with interventional embolization under the guidance of DSA. The scope of lesions was observed through DSA, and the injection dose of sclerosing agent was predicted so that the drug could be injected into the lesion cavity. The efficacy, adverse reactions and complications of all patients were observed and analyzed., Results: Among the 9 patients, there were 7 males(77.8%) and 2 females(22.2%), aged from 1.5-20 years old. Local swelling or mass was the main reported symptom(66.7%). The blood supply arteries of the cases involved in this study included superficial temporal artery and ophthalmic artery. All patients received interventional embolization treatment under general anesthesia, a total of 19 times (each patient received 1-6 times, average 2.1 times/person), and the average single dose of absolute ethanol was 9.0 mL. A total of 80 coils (4.2 coils/time on average) were used for 5 times (80 coils/19 times) with absolute ethanol embolization. In addition, bleomycin was used 3 times, pingyangmycin was used 2 times, and 3% polydocanol was used 1 time to assist embolization. Among the 9 cases included in this study, 4 cases were cured, 3 cases were basically cured, 2 cases were improved, and the effective rate of treatment was 100%. No local or systemic complications were reported in all patients., Conclusions: In the treatment of frontal arteriovenous malformation, correct diagnosis according to clinical and imaging manifestations, and interventional embolization with anhydrous ethanol according to DSA angiography results can reduce trauma, improve symptoms, control lesions, and obtain relatively satisfactory treatment results. This scheme is safe and effective.

Objectives: To summarize the clinical characteristics and investigate the efficacy of ethanol embolotherapy in the treatment of chest well arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Treatment-associated complications were also explored., Materials and Methods: Between March 2017 and August 2021, 32 consecutive patients (mean age, 23.7 years; age range, 5-54 years) who underwent ethanol embolotherapy for chest well AVMs under general anesthesia were included in this study. Embolization was performed through a direct puncture, transarterial catheterization, or a combination of the 2 procedures. The mean follow-up duration after the last treatment was 18.0 months (range, 3-42 months). The degree of devascularization on follow-up (assessed using angiography or computed tomography), and the clinical signs and symptoms of AVMs were evaluated as the therapeutic outcomes. The major and minor complications associated with the procedures were recorded., Results: A total of 103 embolization procedures (mean, 3.2; range, 2-7) comprising 101 ethanol embolization and 2 coil embolizations were performed on 32 patients with chest wall AVMs. The AVM nidus was accessed through the transarterial approach alone in 4 patients, by direct puncture in 11, and a combined procedure in 17 patients. Overall, more than 80% of the procedures were performed using the combined approach. Complete AVM devascularization was achieved in 12 (37.5%) patients. Moreover, 76% to 99% AVM was achieved in 18 patients (56.3%), and 50% to 75% in 2 patients (6.3%). Bleeding, pain, heart failure, and cosmetic deformities were the indications for treatment. For 3 patients (3/32, 9.4%) who had bleeding, the treatment stopped the hemorrhage. Complete pain relief was reported in 8 patients (8/32, 25.0%), whereas complete relief from congestive heart failure post-embolization was observed in 5 of the 6 patients with congestive heart failure (5/6, 83.3%). Complete correction of cosmesis deformities after embolization was achieved in 10 patients (10/32, 31.3%). Two patients who underwent surgery to correct persistent deformity after embolization only showed insignificant improvement. In addition, 6 (18.8%) patients developed 13 complications including blister, necrosis, hemothorax, transient hemoglobinuria, and transient pulmonary artery hypertension., Conclusions: Ethanol embolotherapy is a safe and effective procedure for chest well AVMs. Surgery is required for some patients with residual cosmesis deformity., Clinical Impact: Currently, there is no standard treatment for chest well AVMs due to their rarity and high heterogeneity. The present study shows that thanol embolotherapy is a safe and clinically effective treatment procedure for the chest well AVMs. Transarterial embolization in combination with direct puncture embolization can reach the AVM nidus. Ethanol embolotherapy can achieve complete obliteration of the AVM nidus in the majority of patients. Surgery may still be needed to correct cosmetic deformity after embolization. The present study provides valuable evidence to inform clinical decision-making.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the treatment technique, outcomes, and complications of Schobinger stage IV head and neck arteriovenous malformations (HNAVMs) with associated high-output cardiac failure (HOCF) using ethanol and coils with the percutaneous suture technique., Methods: From January 2015 to December 2019, 19 patients who had HNAVMs with associated HOCF were treated first with a percutaneous suture of the remarkably dilated dominant drainage vein (RDDOV) and subsequent embolization with coils and ethanol. The percutaneous suture of RDDOV was preferred to be performed, followed by the deployment of coils and the injection of absolute ethanol via transarterial approach, direct puncture approach, or both of them. Treatment outcomes and complication rates were evaluated at follow-up., Results: A total of 19 patients who experienced HNAVMs with HOCF received 19 percutaneous suture procedures and 84 embolization procedures with ethanol and coils. Complete or >90% shunt reduction of the AVM was achieved in 16 patients. Notably, 19 patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) stage II improved to stage I, and the symptom of dyspnea disappeared after embolization. The symptoms of five patients with bleeding disappeared. All patients presented with cosmetic concerns; Four were cured, and eight had a clearly recognizable improvement. Of note, 19 (100%) patients presented with impairment of daily life, which was resolved. The minor complications were encountered and recovered by the self. No major complications occurred., Conclusion: This study provides evidence that ethanol and coil embolotherapy is effective and safe in treating HOCF caused by HNAVMs with acceptable complications in these cases. The percutaneous suture technique for RDDOV management can act as an adjunct for embolotherapy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wen, Li, Shen, Wang, Zheng, Wang, Fan, Su and Yang.)

Palaeozoic fern-like plants show great diversity in their morphology and/or anatomy. Within this group, a novel taxon, Xinhangia spina gen. et sp. nov., is now reported from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) Wutong Formation of Anhui Province, China. The primary and secondary branches are borne alternately and sometimes in a triseriate pattern. Spines are evident on the main axes or stems and on the primary branches. Vegetative ultimate appendages with recurved tips are alternate, usually dichotomous 1-2 times, and sometimes as an aphlebia located at the base of primary or secondary branches. Fertile ultimate appendages are alternate, usually dichotomous 1-2 times, and terminate in elongated and paired sporangia. The stele has a clepsydroid-like primary xylem with each end bearing a protoxylem strand. The secondary xylem surrounding the primary xylem illustrates uniseriate rays. With rare divisions in both the vegetative and fertile ultimate appendages, Xinhangia represents a morphologically primitive plant. It is of uncertain affinity at the class or order level. The stelar architecture suggests that the clepsydroid stele may not be emphasized in discussing the relationship among fern-like plants such as rhacophytaleans.

Tree lycopsids prospered in the Late Devonian and constituted a major part of the Late Paleozoic forest ecosystem that deeply impacted the Earth's climate. However, the fertile organs of these early tree lycopsids display low morphological disparity, which has hampered further knowledge about their ecological habit. Here, we report Omprelostrobus gigas gen. et sp. nov. from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) Wutong Formation at Changxing, Zhejiang, China. The collection includes aerial axes, strobili and associated roots. The strobili are the largest among coeval lycopsids to our knowledge, and are divided into proximal and distal portions by dimorphic sporophylls with differentiated laminae and probable strong photosynthetic capacity. The associated but not attached roots displaying multiple isotomous branches lack rootlets and typical rootlet scars. The varied strobili sizes of early tree lycopsids were relatively independent of their body plan, but the large strobili could suggest increased reproductive investment to overcome the disadvantages of the disturbed flooded habitat., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)-derived ophthalmic artery (OphA) branches are not common, and their management is very challenging. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of Trans OphA ethanol embolotherapy for these lesions. We retrospectively reviewed 26 patients with AVMs fed by OphA, who underwent transOphA embolization using ethanol from February, 2015 to December, 2019. Sixty-six transOphA embolotherapy procedures (range, 1-4 procedures; mean, 2.5 procedures) were performed. Devascularization degree, visual field, visual acuity, and quality-of-life outcomes were compared and analyzed at follow up (mean, 32.6 months; month range 10-60). Complications were recorded. Twenty-five of the 26 patients (96%) reported complete or > 90% AVM devascularization while one patient (4%) showed > 70% devascularization. Eleven patients (42%) presented with visual acuity impairments; among them, 6 had improvements while 4 were completely relieved. Eight patients (30.7%) presented visual field defects, 3 had improvements while 4 were completely relieved. Ten patients (38.4%) presented with diplopia and exophthalmos with 2 being completely relieved while 6 had major improvements. Bleeding was controlled in all cases (100%). All patients (100%) exhibited cosmetic deformities with 17 being completely relieved. Moreover, all patients (100%) exhibited impaired daily life, which was resolved in 21 patients with 5 patients reporting major improvements. After endovascular treatment, there was no vision loss, death, or permanent disability in any patient. TransOphA ethanol embolotherapy is efficacious and safe for symptomatic resolution or improvement of AVMs fed by OphA with acceptable complications without the risk of visual impairment., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Guangdedendron micrum is the Late Devonian tree lycopsid that made up Xinhang fossil forest in Anhui, China, showing the earliest stigmarian rooting system. Based on new specimens of this lycopsid, the roots bearing rootlets, terminal parts of stems, vegetative leaves and monosporangiate strobili containing megaspores are researched in detail., Results: The roots with four robust rhizomorphs are largely expanded and approach the size of those of the Late Carboniferous giant tree lycopsids in swampy forests. The rootlets along rhizomorphic axis leave oval to circular scars after abscission. Narrow-fusiform leaf cushions display a leaf scar, vascular bundle and ligule pit. Cylindrical megasporangiate strobili are borne singly, in pairs, or occasionally once-dichotomized. Of each megasporophyll, the pedicel consists of a keel and possibly undeveloped alations, and the long-triangular lamina presents a heel. Megasporangium is sessile and contains multiple Lagenicula megaspores with distinct spines and a large gula., Conclusions: G. micrum displays large terminal monosporangiate strobili probably adapted to turbulent condition, and its megasporophylls together with multiple Lagenicula-type megaspores hint a possible primitive evolutionary status. These characteristics provide new insights into the evolution of fertile traits of early lycopsids., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Purpose: To summarize a 10-year, single-institution experience with ethanol embolization of nasal arteriovenous malformations (NAVMs) in 52 patients., Patients and Methods: The present work was a retrospective study of 52 patients (aged between 1 and 67 years) with NAVMs who were treated with ethanol embolization between August 2009 and August 2019. The diagnosis of NAVMs was established based on clinical and imaging studies including ultrasound, computer tomography angiography, and digital subtract angiography. Embolization techniques used in the current study included transarterial, direct puncture, and a combination of both. The clinical and angiographic features, treatment methods, clinical outcomes, and complications were assessed within the mean period of 55.2 months (range, 1-119 months) after the last embolization., Results: The total number of embolization sessions (140 embolization procedures in 52 pts) included transarterial approach (1 pt), direct puncture (2 pt), and a combination of transarterial and direct puncture (49 pts). There was a positive correlation between nidus size and treatment sessions (r = 0.780, P = 0.0005) and the amount of ethanol injected (r = 0.840, P = 0.0004). Results of the current study showed that the therapeutic outcomes were complete response in two patients (3.8%) without recurrence throughout the follow-up period (range, 1-119 months; mean, 55.2 months), and partial response in 50 patients (96.2%). A total of seven patients (13.5%) experienced one or more complications, including skin necrosis in one patient (1.9%), transient hemoglobinuria in five patients (9.6%), and skin blister in five patients (9.6%)., Conclusion: The reported single-institution experience evidently indicated that ethanol embolotherapy has the potential to successfully devascularize NAVMs and also significantly improve symptoms and signs. Further, it was evident that the use of a combination of transarterial and direct puncture techniques has the potential to increase the rate of therapeutic response in patients with NAVMs., (© 2021. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE).)

Background: Previous studies have discussed the special structural adaptations of Late Palaeozoic lycopsids, for example, the dispersal potential of reproductive organs. Based on materials from the Upper Devonian Wutong Formation in Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, China, we now analyze the morphometric and perform some calculation to evaluate the dispersal of sporophyll units of lycopsids., Results: The fossil sporophyll units are divided into two types in view of obvious difference in shape and we name two new (form) species for them. We also analyze the falling process and give the calculation method of dispersal distance., Conclusions: The fossil sporophyll units show relatively poor potential of wind dispersal compared with modern samaras, and show potential adaptation to the turbulent environment., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The earliest ovules in the Late Devonian (Famennian) are surrounded by a cupule that is involved in both protection and pollination, and generally have free integumentary lobes. Here we report a new taxon from the Famennian of China, Guazia dongzhiensis gen. et sp. nov. The terminally borne ovule is apparently acupulate (without cupule) and has four radially arranged wing-like integumentary lobes that are extensively fused, and folded lengthwise and inwards. Guazia provides evidence that not all Devonian seeds possess a cupule and it increases their diversity in integumentary lobes. This genus also suggests that the integuments develop new functions, probably including wind dispersal at the expense of the cupules., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of China Science Publishing & Media Ltd.)

Existing studies of coal self-ignition and impact frictional sparks do not provide valid support for the analysis of ignition sources in all cases of methane explosions in the gob. In this paper, the explosion in the gob of the Renlou coal mine is used to investigate the piezoelectric effect and ignition characteristics of roof collapse in identifying a new ignition source of gas explosion. Experimental and theoretical analyses conclude that the piezoelectric effect is produced by quartz, which is the main constituent of the roof sandstone. During the loading process, the piezoelectric effect and compressive strength are key factors in the gathering of free charges on rock tips. During rupture, the rock tip retains a large number of charges, forming a ″point-surface″ effect, which triggers an electron avalanche accompanied by an orange-yellow spark lasting over 22 ms, far exceeding the ionization energy and ignition induction period of methane-air mixtures. The piezoelectric effect and compressive strength of the rock cause the generation of electrical sparks, which is the ignition source of the explosion in the gob of Renlou mine II7 3 22., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Coalfield fire area reburning is one of the serious disasters in fire prevention and safety production. In this study, a synchronous thermal analyzer was used to conduct isothermal pyrolysis of jet coal at different temperatures, and the reaction characteristic parameters of different pyrolysis residual structures were analyzed. FTIR was used to measure group contents in raw coal and different pyrolysis residues. Programmed oxidation thermogravimetric experiments were carried out on the residues to obtain their oxidation characteristic parameters. The results demonstrated that the reaction characteristic parameters of the residual structures changed at 450 °C. The pyrolysis reaction mainly affected the variation of hydroxyl, aliphatic hydrocarbon, and aromatic hydrocarbon groups. The increase in pyrolysis temperature resulted in the decline in hydroxyl and aliphatic hydrocarbon groups as well as the increase in the aromatic hydrocarbon group. After pyrolysis, the ignition point temperature of the coal sample decreased, which causes the coal more likely to spontaneously ignite. It indicated that the pyrolysis residue at 450 °C is most likely to reburn. Compared with raw coal, the maximum combustion intensity of the pyrolysis residue was greatly increased, which reached the peak at 500 °C., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

An increasing number of studies have shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in tumor development and progression. However, their involvement in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains largely unknown. Epigenetic regulation is one major mechanism utilized by cancer cells to control lncRNA expression. We identified that lncRNA VENTXP1 was epigenetically silenced in multiple cancer types, and its lower expression was correlated with poorer survival in HNSCC patients. Through in silico analysis and experimental validation, we identified miR-205-5p and its direct interacting partner of VENTXP1, which regulates HNSCC cell proliferation and tumorigenicity. Using RNA-seq and differential gene expression analysis, we further identified ANKRD2 as a miR-205-5p target, which plays an essential role in modulating NF-kB signaling. These findings suggest that VENTXP1 inhibits tumor growth via suppressing miR-205-5p/ANKRD2-mediated NF-kB signaling in HNSCC. Thus, pharmaceutical targeting of DNA methylation to restore VENTXP1 expression might constitute a therapeutic strategy for HNSCC.

The role of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) on the clinical outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) treatment remained to be elucidated. Therefore, we did this meta-analysis. We searched databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library till to June, 2017. The relationships between the LDH levels and overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were assessed by calculating hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The association between the LDH levels and disease control rate (DCR) was calculated by odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI. Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. As for DCR, the result from this meta-analysis was not positive (OR=0.71; 95% CI 0.21 - 2.37; P=0.57). As for PFS, the result of the meta-analysis indicated that elevated LDH was significantly associated with shorter PFS (HR=1.88; 95%CI, 1.37-2.59). When studies were stratified by ethnicity, significant association was also observed in Asian group (HR=2.36; 95%CI, 1.57-3.55). As for OS, patients with high levels of LDH showed significantly shorter OS (HR=2.44; 95%CI, 1.84-3.23). In the subgroup by race, significant associations were found in Asian group (HR=2.62; 95%CI, 1.61-4.26) and Caucasian population (HR=2.36; 95%CI, 1.66-3.34). In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggested that elevated LDH level was associated with the poor PFS and OS of NSCLC patients receiving EGFR-TKIs treatment.

Foam is used as an efficient means of dust suppression in underground coal mines. The poor performance of conventional adding device of foaming agent restricts its wide application. The objective of this study is to propose and investigate a new parallel jet adding device (PJAD). Experimental results show that PJAD requires a greater water flow to produce negative pressure than the single stage jet adding device (SJAD) and is harder to generate cavitation. PJAD consumes a less pressure loss than SJAD and realizes any adding proportion below 1%, which is especially suitable for precision addition of foaming agent. A foaming system used for dust suppression is put forward with PJAD adding foaming agent. Field application indicates that foam achieves a far better dust suppression effect than the roadheader water spraying, and the foam cost is significantly reduced due to the low adding proportion of foaming agent. The marked dust suppression effect makes us believe that the proposed PJAD will greatly promote the large-scale application of foam technology used for dust suppression in underground coal mines.

The liver X receptors (LXRs) are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily. The activated LXRs have a variety of biological functions, for instance they can not only regulate the metabolism of cholesterol, fatty acids and glucose, but also play an important role in immune inflammatory response. Massive studies have shown that LXRs are involved in the occurrence and progress of inflammatory-related diseases, and can inhibit the inflammation of some inflammatory-related diseases in the nervous system, the respiratory system, and the cardiovascular system. In this review, we summarized the recent progress regarding LXRs in inflammatory-related diseases, including the structure, function and anti-inflammatory mechanism of LXRs, in order to provide new methods for preventing and treating inflammatory-related diseases.

Introduction: Recently, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) indicated that rs7216389 polymorphism on chromosome 17q21 was associated with paediatric asthma risk. However, the results remained controversial. Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed., Evidence Acquisition: A comprehensive literature retrieve was performed on PubMed, Embase and Science Direct databases up to Feb 20, 2016. The strength of association between 17q21 locus rs7216389 polymorphism and pediatric asthma risk was assessed by computing odds ratio (OR) with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI)., Evidence Synthesis: A total of 10 studies with 7797 cases and 38757 controls were included. A statistically significant association of rs7216389 polymorphism and pediatric asthma risk was found (OR=1.41, 95%CI=1.34-1.49, P<0.00001). Furthermore, both Caucasians (OR=1.41, 95%CI=1.33-1.49, P<0.00001) and Asians (OR=1.43, 95%CI=1.25-1.63, P<0.00001) with rs7216389 polymorphism showed significant association, respectively. A significantly increased susceptibility was identified in atopic asthma (OR=1.45, 95%CI=1.22-1.72, P<0.00001). In the stratification analysis by study design, both case-control studies (OR=1.40, 95%CI=1.33-1.48, P<0.00001) and cohort studies (OR=2.05, 95%CI=1.32-3.17, P=0.001) showed significant association, respectively., Conclusions: In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that 17q21 locus rs7216389 polymorphism was significantly associated with paediatric asthma risk.

Some studies found that there was a significant association between asthma and the risk of lung cancer. However, the results are inconclusive. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis. We searched the electronic databases for all relevant articles. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to calculate the strength of the association between asthma and lung cancer risk. Asthma was significantly associated with the increased risk of lung cancer (OR = 1.44; 95% CI 1.31-1.59; P < 0.00001; I2 = 83%). Additionally, asthma patients without smoking also had the increased lung cancer risk. In the subgroup analysis of race and gender, Caucasians, Asians, male, and female patients with asthma showed the increased risk of lung cancer. However, asthma was not significantly associated with lung adenocarcinoma risk. In the stratified analysis by asthma definition, significant associations were found between asthma and lung cancer in self-reported subgroup, questionnaire subgroup, and register databases subgroup. However, no significant association was observed in physician-diagnosed asthma subgroup. In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggested that asthma might be significantly associated with lung cancer risk.

Pollen organ Telangiopsis sp., associated with but not attached to vegetative fronds, has been collected from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) Wutong Formation, Dongzhi County, Anhui Province, China. Fertile axes with terminal pollen organs are dichotomous for 2-4 times and may be proximally attached by fragmentary pinnules. Pollen organs are synangiate and borne on the top of a short stalk. Synangia are radial in symmetry and each consists of 4-8 elongate microsporangia fused at base. Microsporangia have a longitudinal dehiscence line and show a tapered apex. The associated stem is spiny and bears a vegetative frond which bifurcates once at the basalmost part. Frond rachises possess one order of pinna arranged alternately. Pinnules are borne alternately, planate, highly dissected, and equally dichotomous for 2-3 times. Comparisons among Late Devonian seed plants recognize several branching patterns in the fertile fronds/axes bearing terminal pollen organs. Telangiopsis sp. reinforces that the Late Devonian pollen organs are synangiate usually with basally fused microsporangia. It is suggested that the evolutionary divergence of radial and bilateral symmetries of pollen organs may have occurred in the Famennian, when the earliest seed plants evolved planate and sometimes laminate pinnules.

The earliest known ovules in the Late Devonian (Famennian) are borne terminally on fertile branches and are typically enclosed in a cupule. Among these ovules are some that have terete integumentary lobes with little or no fusion. Here, we report a new taxon, Latisemenia longshania, from the Famennian of South China, which bears cupulate ovules that are terminal as well as opposite on the fertile axis. Each ovule has four broad integumentary lobes, which are extensively fused to each other and also to the nucellus. The cupule is uniovulate, and the five flattened cupule segments of each terminal ovule are elongate cuneate and shorter than the ovule. Associated but not attached pinnules are laminate and Sphenopteris-like, with an entire or lobate margin. Latisemenia is the earliest known plant with ovules borne on the side of the fertile axis and may foreshadow the diverse ovule arrangements found among younger seed plant lineages that emerge in the Carboniferous. Following the telome theory, Latisemenia demonstrates derived features in both ovules and cupules, and the shape and fusion of integumentary lobes suggest effective pollination and protection to the nucellus. Along with other recent discoveries from China, Latisemenia extends the palaeogeographic range of the earliest seed plants., (© 2015 The Author(s).)

Background and Aims: With the exception of angiosperms, the main euphyllophyte lineages (i.e. ferns sensu lato, progymnosperms and gymnosperms) had evolved laminate leaves by the Late Devonian. The evolution of laminate leaves, however, remains unclear for early-diverging ferns, largely represented by fern-like plants. This study presents a novel fern-like taxon with pinnules, which provides new insights into the early evolution of laminate leaves in early-diverging ferns., Methods: Macrofossil specimens were collected from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) Wutong Formation of Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces, South China. A standard degagement technique was employed to uncover compressed plant portions within the rock matrix., Key Results: A new fern-like taxon, SHOUGANGIA BELLA GEN ET SP NOV: , is described and represents an early-diverging fern with highly derived features. It has a partially creeping stem with adventitious roots only on one side, upright primary and secondary branches arranged in helices, tertiary branches borne alternately or (sub)oppositely, laminate and usually lobed leaves with divergent veins, and complex fertile organs terminating tertiary branches and possessing multiple divisions and numerous terminal sporangia., Conclusions: Shougangia bella provides unequivocal fossil evidence for laminate leaves in early-diverging ferns. It suggests that fern-like plants, along with other euphyllophyte lineages, had independently evolved megaphylls by the Late Devonian, possibly in response to a significant decline in atmospheric CO2 concentration. Among fern-like plants, planate ultimate appendages are homologous with laminate pinnules, and in the evolution of megaphylls, fertile organs tend to become complex., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) involving the periorbital region are technically challenging clinical entities to manage. The purpose of the present study was to present our initial experience of ethanol embolization in a series of 16 patients with auricular AVMs and assess the outcomes of this treatment., Methods: Transcatheter arterial embolization and/or direct percutaneous puncture embolization were performed in the 16 patients. Pure or diluted ethanol was manually injected. The follow-up evaluations included physical examination and angiography at 1- to 6-month intervals., Results: During the 28 ethanol embolization sessions, the amount of ethanol used ranged from 2 to 65 mL. The obliteration of ulceration, hemorrhage, pain, infection, pulsation, and bruit in most of the patients was obtained. The reduction of redness, swelling, and warmth was achieved in all the 16 patients, with down-staging of the Schobinger status for each patient. AVMs were devascularized 100 % in 3 patients, 76-99 % in 7 patients, and 50-75 % in 6 patients, according to the angiographic findings. The most common complications were necrosis and reversible blister. No permanent visual abnormality was found in any of the cases., Conclusion: Ethanol embolization is efficacious and safe in the treatment of AVMs in the periorbital region and has the potential to be accepted as the primary mode of therapy in the management of these lesions.

Late Devonian Minostrobus chaohuensis is one of the earliest monosporangiate-strobilate isoetaleans. Based on new material of this plant, the vegetative axis and microsporangiate strobilus are studied in detail, and the whole plant knowledge is summarized. The vegetative axis is isotomously branched. The stem is up to 55 mm in diameter with helically arranged leaf cushions. Stems and thick branches bear long fusiform leaf cushions and interareas with vertical linear ornamentations. A ligule pit, oblanceolate leaf scar, and vascular bundle scar appear on the leaf cushion. Distal axes have persistent lanceolate leaves and rhombic leaf bases. The microsporangiate strobilus is cylindrical in shape, possesses sporophyll with alate pedicel and long triangular lamina, uniseriate sporangial wall, subarchesporial pad inside the sporangium, and microspore with cingulum. Based on comparisons with other isoetaleans, the usage of the terms "leaf cushion" and "leaf base" is discussed, and Minostrobus chaohuensis is considered as a tree-like lycopsid. It suggests that arborescent isoetaleans with monosporangiate strobili had appeared and diversified in the Late Devonian. The multi-dichotomous branching system of Minostrobus provides new data on the evolution of growth architecture in rhizomorphic lycopsids.

Two hundred autopsy cases that died from cranio-cerebral injury were analyzed on the damage characteristics caused by different instruments. The injury mechanism was then classified according to beating direction, sequence, as well as baring spot of injury, which is seek to serve for the estimation of wounding instruments and determination of the character of case.

Objective: To investigate the effects of ulinastatin (UTI) on cerebral inflammatory response during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)., Methods: Twenty-four NYHA II-III patients (13 males and 11 females) aged 23-45 years, undergoing elective cardiac valve replacement under hypothermic CPB were randomly divided into 2 groups: ulinastatin group (Group U, n=12) and control group (Group C, n=12). In group U, UTI (1.2 x 10(4) U/kg) was given intravenously after the induction of anesthesia, 0.6 x 10(4) U/kg UTI was added to the priming solution, and 0.6 x 10(4) U/kg UTI was given about 5 min before the aortic decamping. In Group C, normal saline was given instead of UTI. Internal jugular vein was cannulated and the catheter was advanced retrogradely till jugular bulb. Blood samples were taken simultaneously from artery and jugular bulb after induction of anesthesia (T1), 60 min (T2) and 6 h (T3) after discontinuation of CPB for determination of TNFalpha, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10. The juguloarterial gradients of these cytokines (deltaTNFalpha, deltaIL-6, deltaIL-8, and deltaIL-10) were calculated., Results: In Group C, arterial levels of TNFalpha, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 at T2 and T3, deltaTNFalpha, deltaIL-8 and deltaIL-10 at T2, deltaTNFalpha, deltaIL-6 and deltaIL-10 at T3 significantly increased (P < 0.01). deltaIL-8 increased at T3 (P < 0.05). In Group U, arterial levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 at T2, arterial levels of IL-6, IL-8,IL-L-10 and deltaTNFalpha, deltaIL-8 at T3 significantly increased (P < 0.01). Arterial levels of TNFalpha at T2 and T3, deltaTNFalpha, deltaIL-10 at T2, deltaIL-6 at T3 increased (P < 0.05). Arterial levels of TNFalpha, IL-6 and deltaTNFalpha, deltaIL-8 at T2, arterial levels of TNFalpha and deltaIL-6 at T3 in Group U were lower than those in Group C (P < 0.05). Arterial levels of IL-6 at T3, IL-8 at T2 and T3 in Group U were significantly lower than those in Group C (P < 0.01). Arterial levels of IL-10 and deltaIL-10 at T3 in Group U were higher than those in Group C (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Systemic and cerebral activation of inflammatory response during CPB can be alleviated by ulinastatin.

Objective: To investigate whether the separating brachial plexus block combined with preoperative analgesia by patient controlled analgesia (PCA) can be applied in tendon repair and postoperative active or passive functional exercise., Methods: Two hundred and ten cases with tendon injury were randomly divided into 3 groups and all of the patients were administered Bupivacaine (0.25%), Papaverine (0.0625 mg/ml), and Dexamethasone (0.25 mg/ml) in separating brachial plexus block through axillary approach. Group A was control group, and preoperative analgesia was not applied. Preoperative analgesia was applied in group B and C. Tramadol and Ondansetron were administered in group B, Midazolam was administered besides Tramadol and Ondansetron in group C. The injection volume in the PCIA pump was increased to 100 ml by mixing physiologic saline. The pump was started after separating brachial plexus block in velocity of 2 ml/h, and its maintenance time was 48 h. The effect of separating brachial plexus block at 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 h after finishing brachial plexus block was compared. The VAS, Ramesay assessment scoring were recorded at 0, 12, 24 and 48 h after starting pump., Results: In each group, the effect of motor block became greater in the ascending order from 1, 2 to 3 h after finishing brachial plexus block, and less in the descending order from 3, 6 to 12 h after finishing brachial plexus block. Only at 6 and 12 h after finishing brachial plexus block, the effect of motor block of group B and group C was significantly less than that of group A (P < 0.05, < 0.01), the effect of motor block of group C was less than that of group B (P > 0.05). The effect of sensory block in the patients of all 3 groups was satisfactory. The VAS, Ramesay assessment scoring, effect of analgesia and sedation at 24 and 48 h after starting pump became greater in the ascending order from group A to group C, in which group B and group C were significantly greater than group A (P < 0.01)., Conclusions: The separating brachial plexus block combined with preoperative analgesia by 2 kinds of PCIA dispensation can be both applied in tendon repair, but the separating effect of brachial plexus block of group B was superior to the group C.

Sublepidodendron is a common megafossil plant in the Late Devonian of China, but historically the generic delimitation based on leaf bases masked its true systematic position. A reinvestigation of S. songziense from the Late Devonian Hsiehchingssu Formation, Hubei, China, provides new insights into its internal anatomy and reproductive morphology. This arborescent lycopsid is characterized by small, vertically elongated leaf bases arranged in spirals, presence of false leaf scars, possibly bearing separate cones, and association with a stigmarian rhizomorph. The potential for organic connections of these detached organ genera has been noted for other Sublepidodendron species. The anatomy of S. songziense axes from two levels reveals that the thinner axis may bear an ectophloic siphonostele with a filamentous pith and an outer cortex. The thicker axis has a siphonostele with a branch gap, two-zoned pith with secondary thickenings, multiseriate rays across secondary xylem, a thick periderm, and primary and secondary tracheid walls characterized by "Williamson's striations." Similarities to synapomorphies of Diaphorodendraceae and Lepidodendraceae suggest that S. songziense bears a closer affinity to Lepidodendrales rather than Protolepidodendrales, as formerly thought. Widespread occurrence of Sublepidodendron implies that phylogenetically advanced arborescent lycopsids must have diverged by the Late Devonian.