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Background It is urgently necessary to find new drugs for chronic prostatitis (CP) as desired treatment effect is still yet to be achieved. Our previous clinical study has found that Anemone tomentosa (Maxim.) Péi has a good effect on CP, but the specific mechanism of action remains to be further studied. Objective To investigate the role of prostasome-derived miRNA-146a in regulating toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB (TLR-4/NF-κB) pathway and the mechanism of action of Anemone tomentosa in treating chronic inflammation in experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) rats. Methods This study was conducted between December 2021 and June 2022. Forty-two Wistar rats were equally divided into seven groups using a random number table, including normal group, model group, low-, medium- and high-dose Anemone tomentosa groups, miRNA-146a mimics and inhibitor groups. After drug intervention, miRNA-146a-5p mRNA in prostasome was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and TLR-4, inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB), phosphorylation of IκB (p-IκB) and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) protein were detected by western blot, and inflammatory cytokines were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Compared with normal group, the expression level of miRNA-146a-5p mRNA in prostasome was down-regulated in each of the other six groups (P

In this article, aiming at the problems of low mechanical properties and the unstable structure of the binder in inorganic artificial stone, performance improvements were studied. The effects of 12 materials of blast-furnace slag (BFS), fly ash (FA), and kaolin on the properties and microstructure of inorganic binders were systematically studied and analyzed. As a result, the compressive strength of BFS-2, FA-1, and FA-2 binder was increased by 10.0, 6.0, and 1.5%, and the flexural strength was increased by 44.8, 79.2, and 1.3%, respectively. It was worth noting that BFS and FA could effectively promote hydration reactions due to active materials and boost the growth of C–S–H and CH, leading to the inorganic binder forming a stable structure. Thus, this work systematically designs and prepares inorganic binders with high compressive strength and excellent flexural strength. This reveals how inorganic materials affect the properties of inorganic binders on the microstructure and offer a new idea for the development of this field.

A novel elastomer-modified multicomponent, multiphase waste-sourced biocomposites, was prepared for converting waste biomass and plastic into value-added products. The effects of blending elastomer–olefin block copolymer (OBC) and maleic anhydride (MAH), and divinylbenzene (DVB) co-grafting of recycled polypropylene (rPP) matrix on the adhesion interface, structure, and properties of high wood flour-filled (60 wt.%) composites were thoroughly investigated. The results indicated that DVB introduced branched structures into the polymer matrix molecular chain and increased the MAH grafting rate. Co-grafting rPP/OBC blends enhanced the interfacial adhesion among rPP, OBC, and wood flour. Additionally, MAH-grafted OBC was prone to encapsulating rigid wood flour, thereby forming an embedded structure. Notably, the tensile modulus and impact strength of the final three-component composites increased by 60% and 125%, respectively, compared with the unmodified composites. Additionally, dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that DVB-induced branching promoted the formation of microvoids in the OBC shell layer surrounding the wood, which in turn induced significant plastic deformation in the polymer matrix. This work offers a facile and efficient method for preparing high-toughness, high-stiffness, and low-cost waste PP-based composites for automotive interiors, and indoor and outdoor decoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) is a rare benign neoplasm, seldom ascribed as the cause of endocrine and metabolic derangement. We herein report a case of primary amenorrhea, growth arrest and metabolic syndrome. En bloc resection of the tumor normalized all the disturbances. Case presentation: A 16-year-old girl complained of primary amenorrhea and growth arrest for the past 2 years. Her height and weight were at the 3rd percentile, whereas waist circumference was at the 90th percentile for chronological age. She was hypertensive on admission. Plasma cholesterol, triglyceride and uric acid were elevated. Evaluation of GH/IGF-1 axis showed extremely low IGF-1 concentration, which was unresponsive to hGH stimulation. Computer tomography identified a huge liver mass (18.2 cm×13.7 cm×21 cm). The patient underwent an uneventful open right hepatic lobectomy. The tumor was en bloc resected. Immunohistochemistry indicated an unclassified HCA, which was confirmed by genetic screening. IGF-1 concentration, blood pressure, lipid profile and ovarian function were all normalized after surgery, and the girl had reduction in waist circumference and gain in height during the follow up. Conclusion: We provide evidence that liver-derived IGF-1 has a direct effect on skeletal and pubertal development, blood pressure, visceral adiposity and dyslipidemia independent of insulin resistance and obesity in the circumstance of undernutrition. Though rare, we propose the need to look into HCA cases for the existence of IGF-1 deficiency and its impact on metabolic derangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed how retailer overconfidence affects supply chain transparency for manufacturers who can encroach on the retail channel by paying a fixed entry cost. Both the reselling model and agent selling model were examined. The results show that an overconfident retailer has more incentive to increase the supply chain transparency in the reselling model than in the agency selling model. In detail, retailer overconfidence may lead to supply chain transparency even at a moderate channel substitution rate, and this effect can be enhanced with an increasing level of retailer overconfidence. This finding differs from conventional wisdom, which indicates that a retailer should not share any information if the channel substitution rate is not sufficiently high. The findings of this study are helpful to explain why some retailers voluntarily share information with manufacturers that have less-competitive direct selling channels. Additionally, from the perspective of entry cost, the results also indicate that an overconfident retailer can have more incentive than a normal retailer to increase the supply chain transparency in the reselling model. For the agent selling model, the results show that the above findings are reversed. Finally, whether using a wholesale or agency model, the retailer may benefit from its overconfidence bias in certain situations when it can voluntarily share information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]