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Simple Summary: Oral lichenoid conditions are common potentially malignant disorders affecting oral mucosa. The 2003 modified WHO criteria is the most widely used criteria in diagnosing oral lichen planus; however, the concern on the implementation of epithelial dysplasia as an exclusion criterion may result in the remarkable underestimation of the potential malignancy of this disease continuing. This systemic review and meta-analysis attempted to provide an objective view by comparing the malignant transformation rate of oral lichen planus diagnosed according to the 2003 modified WHO criteria and non-2003 criteria, and to determine risk variables associated with malignant transformation of oral lichenoid conditions. We found that the malignant transformation rate of oral lichen planus differed based on diagnostic criteria, with lower rates for the 2003 modified WHO criteria than non-2003 criteria, albeit not statistically significant. A higher incidence of malignant transformation was found for red-type lesions and patients who are smokers, alcohol consumers, and HCV positive. Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the evidence on the malignant potential of oral lichenoid conditions (OLCs) including oral lichen planus (OLP), oral lichenoid lesions (OLL), and lichenoid mucositis dysplasia (LMD). In addition, it aims to compare the rate of malignant transformation (MT) in OLP patients diagnosed according to different diagnostic criteria, and to investigate the possible risk factors for OLP MT into OSCC. Materials and methods: A standardized search strategy was applied across four databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus). Screening, identification and reporting followed the PRISMA framework. Data on MT were calculated as a pooled proportion (PP), subgroup analyses and possible risk factors for MT were pooled as odds ratios (ORs). Results: Among 54 studies with 24,277 patients, the PP for OLCs MT was 1.07% (95% CI [0.82, 1.32]). The estimated MT rate for OLP, OLL and LMD was 0.94%, 1.95% and 6.31%, respectively. The PP OLP MT rate using the 2003 modified WHO criteria group was lower than that using the non-2003 criteria (0.86%; 95% CI [0.51, 1.22] versus 1.01%; 95% CI [0.67, 1.35]). A higher odds ratio of MT was observed for red OLP lesions (OR = 3.52; 95% CI [2.20, 5.64]), smokers (OR = 1.79; 95% CI [1.02, 3.03]), alcohol consumers (OR = 3.27, 95% CI [1.11, 9.64]) and those infected with HCV (OR = 2.55, 95% CI [1.58, 4.13]), compared to those without these risk factors. Conclusions: OLP and OLL carry a low risk of developing OSCC. MT rates differed based on diagnostic criteria. A higher odds ratio of MT was observed among red OLP lesions, smokers, alcohol consumers, and HCV-positive patients. These findings have implications for practice and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to explore associations of aromatic amino acids (AAA) in early pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and whether high AAA and gut microbiota-related metabolites had interactive effects on GDM risk. Methods: We conducted a 1:1 case-control study (n = 486) nested in a prospective cohort of pregnant women from 2010 to 2012. According to the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group's criteria, 243 women were diagnosed with GDM. Binary conditional logistic regression was performed to examine associations of AAA with GDM risk. Interactions between AAA and gut microbiota-related metabolites for GDM were examined using additive interaction measures. Results: High phenylalanine and tryptophan were associated with increased GDM risk (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.07–2.78 and 1.66, 1.02–2.71). The presence of high trimethylamine (TMA) markedly increased the OR of high phenylalanine alone up to 7.95 (2.79–22.71), while the presence of low glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA) markedly increased the OR of high tryptophan alone up to 22.88 (5.28–99.26), both with significant additive interactions. Furthermore, high lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC18:0) mediated both interactive effects. Conclusions: High phenylalanine may have an additive interaction with high TMA, while high tryptophan may have an additive interaction with low GUDCA toward increased risk of GDM, both being mediated via LPC18:0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effects of Zr, Al or Sr doped Mn/MCM-41 on NH3-SCR activity, SO2/H2O resistance and mechanism were studied. The results showed that Mn/Zr-MCM-41 has 100% NOx conversion at 175–300 °C while Mn/Al-MCM-41 achieves about 94% N2 selectivity at 120–400 °C. Zr doping significantly enhances the resistance to SO2 at 200 °C while Sr plays a negative role. Doped metal does not change the ordered hexagonal arrangement of MCM-41, but can cause the specific surface area enrichment of Mn while Al doping leads to the entry of Mn into the channel of MCM-41. Mn/MCM-41 has only Lewis acid sites, but Zr, Al or Sr doped catalysts have Lewis and Brønsted acid sites. Moreover, the reaction path on Mn/MCM-41 and Mn/Zr-MCM-41 mainly conforms to the L–H mechanism while Mn–Al or Mn–Sr doped catalysts follow L–H and E–R mechanisms. However, the deposited sulfates change the progress of the NH3-SCR process and cause a decline of SCR activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: To compare the safety of replacing peripheral intravenous catheter as clinically indicated versus routine replacement on patient outcomes in the Chinese context. Background: Some evidence from developed countries recommend replacing peripheral intravenous catheter as clinically indicated; however, there is limited evidence from developing countries. Design: A multisite randomised controlled trial. Methods: The 3050 participants from three hospitals in China were randomly assigned to clinically indicated or routine replacement groups. Patients in the clinically indicated group had the catheters kept in situ until any of the following clinical signs appeared: phlebitis, infiltration, occlusion, displacement, local infection and diagnosed catheter‐related bloodstream infection. Patients in the routine replacement group had their peripheral intravenous catheters replaced every 96 hours. The outcomes of phlebitis, infiltration, occlusion, displacement; catheter‐related bloodstream infection, all‐cause bloodstream infection, and local infection were compared. CONSORT checklist was used to guide the reporting of this RCT. Results: The risk of phlebitis, phlebitis per 1000 catheter days, occlusion, dislodgement, all bloodstream infections, local infection and mortality between the two groups were not significantly different. The risk of infiltration was increased in the clinically indicated group (HR 1.29). There was no catheter‐related bloodstream infection reported in either group. Patients' first peripheral intravenous catheter dwelling time and cumulative indwelling time of all peripheral intravenous catheters in the clinically indicated group were significantly longer than the routine replacement group. There was no statistical significant difference in survival times from phlebitis between the two groups. Conclusions: In the Chinese context, removing peripheral catheters as clinical indicated did not increase the risk of phlebitis, occlusion, catheter displacement and catheter infection; however, there was an increased infiltration incidence. Relevance to clinical practice: In developing countries, removing peripheral catheters as clinical indicated is feasible, but more frequent observations of infiltration are highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study is aimed at exploring the effect of warming Yang, tonifying kidney, and removing arthralgia therapy in the treatment of cold-dampness arthralgia type ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the effects on the levels of humoral factor in human serum. Method. A total of 72 patients with cold-dampness arthralgia type AS treated in our hospital from May 2020 to June 2021 were selected and divided into the observation group (n = 36) and control group (n = 36) according to the random number table method. The clinical efficacy of the two groups was observed. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores and clinical signs of the two groups were compared, and the pain situation of the two groups was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS). Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) were used to evaluate the spinal function and activity of the two groups, and the levels of CXC-type chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16), Dickkopf-1(DKK-1), interleukin-17 (IL-17), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), sclerostin (SOST) ,and bone morphogenetic protein 2(BMP-2) in serum of the two groups were measured. Results. The total effective rate of the observation group (91.67%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (66.67%) (P < 0.05). After treatment, the degree of improvement in TCM syndrome score, clinical signs, VAS score, BASDAI, BASFI, and the levels of CXCL16, TNF-α, IL-17, DKK-1, SOST, and BMP-2 in the observation group were significantly higher than that in the control group (all P < 0.05). Conclusion. Warming Yang, tonifying kidney, and removing arthralgia therapy had a good effect on the treatment of cold-dampness arthralgia type AS, and it could effectively improve the clinical symptoms and signs, relieve pain, improve spinal motion, and relieve inflammation of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to elucidate the interactions between osteosarcoma (OS) and M1 macrophages infiltrated into the tumor microenvironment and to explore the underlying mechanisms whereby M1 macrophages influence the growth of OS, so that novel treatments of OS can be developed. A transwell co-culture system, an indirect conditioned medium culture system and two orthotopic bearing OS models were established to assess for the interplay between M1 macrophages and OS. We found that the co-culture of M1 macrophages with OS cells significantly inhibited the growth of the tumor cells by inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, HSPA1L secreted by M1 macrophages exerted this anti-tumor effect through the IRAK1 and IRAK4 pathways. LGALS3BP secreted by OS cells bound to the ligand LGALS3 on M1 macrophages and thereby induced the secretion of Hspa11 via Akt phosphorylation. In vivo experiments demonstrated that the culture supernatant of OS-stimulated M1 macrophages significantly inhibited the growth of OS, whereas silencing Lgals3bp promoted the progression of OS. In conclusion, OS modifies the phenotype of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and thereby influences the apoptosis of OS cells through soluble factors. The modulation of TAMs may be a promising and effective therapeutic approach in OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was aimed at exploring the clinical value of a 14-zone lung ultrasound scoring (LUS) method in treating neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) with pulmonary surfactant (PS) and determining the timing of mechanical ventilation (MV). In this study, 88 neonates with NRDS who received PS replacement therapy were selected. We applied a new 14-zone LUS method before and 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after PS treatment to explore the clinical value of assessing PS replacement therapy efficacy in NRDS. Additionally, 67 patients with NRDS under MV received LUS during extubation. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of LUS in the timing of extubation. LUS score was inversely associated with PS treatment. At 12 h after PS, only the 14-zone LUS method was significantly different (t = 4.08, p < 0.05) as compared with before PS, which was consistent with the change on chest x-ray (CXR); the other LUS methods did not differ (p > 0.05). The 14-zone LUS method exhibited better diagnostic performance for withdrawal time. A score of 41.0 points was used as the diagnostic threshold to predict the risk of withdrawal failure, with an area under the curve of 0.955, sensitivity of 92.4% and specificity of 93.8%. The new 14-zone LUS method improved scoring in the early efficacy of PS and had good diagnostic efficiency for timing the removal of MV in NRDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and is accompanied by low diagnosis and survival rates. The molecular mechanism of GC must be elucidated to improve treatment strategies. Recent research has shown that the expression of myelin and lymphocyte (MAL) protein is reduced in a variety of adenocarcinomas and has the function of suppressing tumor growth. However, the mechanism by which MAL regulates the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in GC remains unclear. Here, we showed that MAL expression was downregulated in specimens from patients with GC and was negatively correlated with the clinical stage. Gain- and loss-of function assays showed that interference with MAL significantly increased tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, invasion and the EMT. Overexpression of MAL significantly inhibited the malignant behavior of GC cells. Moreover, MAL suppressed the malignant behavior of GC cells by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation in vitro and in vivo. Our data indicate that MAL suppresses the malignant behavior of GC cells via the STAT3/EMT axis. This study also provides insights into the pathophysiological process of GC and a reference for diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: After activation of the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP) in 2012, hospitals nationwide experimented broadly with the implementation of Transitional Care (TC) strategies to reduce hospital readmissions. Although numerous evidence-based TC models exist, they are often adapted to local contexts, rendering large-scale evaluation difficult. Little systematic evidence exists about prevailing implementation patterns of TC strategies among hospitals, nor which strategies in which combinations are most effective at improving patient outcomes. We aimed to identify and define combinations of TC strategies, or groups of transitional care activities, implemented among a large and diverse cohort of U.S. hospitals, with the ultimate goal of evaluating their comparative effectiveness.Methods: We collected implementation data for 13 TC strategies through a nationwide, web-based survey of representatives from short-term acute-care and critical access hospitals (N = 370) and obtained Medicare claims data for patients discharged from participating hospitals. TC strategies were grouped separately through factor analysis and latent class analysis.Results: We observed 348 variations in how hospitals implemented 13 TC strategies, highlighting the diversity of hospitals' TC strategy implementation. Factor analysis resulted in five overlapping groups of TC strategies, including those characterized by 1) medication reconciliation, 2) shared decision making, 3) identifying high risk patients, 4) care plan, and 5) cross-setting information exchange. We determined that the groups suggested by factor analysis results provided a more logical grouping. Further, groups of TC strategies based on factor analysis performed better than the ones based on latent class analysis in detecting differences in 30-day readmission trends.Conclusions: U.S. hospitals uniquely combine TC strategies in ways that require further evaluation. Factor analysis provides a logical method for grouping such strategies for comparative effectiveness analysis when the groups are dependent. Our findings provide hospitals and health systems 1) information about what groups of TC strategies are commonly being implemented by hospitals, 2) strengths associated with the factor analysis approach for classifying these groups, and ultimately, 3) information upon which comparative effectiveness trials can be designed. Our results further reveal promising targets for comparative effectiveness analyses, including groups incorporating cross-setting information exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Evaluate associations between orange juice (OJ) consumption and anthropometric parameters.Design: Prospective cohort study assessing the association between OJ intake and changes in BMI and height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) using mixed linear regression.Setting: 2004-2008, USA.Participants: Children from the Growing Up Today Study II (n 7301), aged 9-16 years at enrollment.Results: OJ consumption was positively associated with 2-year change in HAZ in girls (mean (se)): 0·03 (0·01) for non-consumers, 0·03 (0·02) for 1-3 glasses/month, 0·06 (0·01) for 1-6 glasses/week and 0·09 (0·02) for ≥1 glass/d after full adjustment (Ptrend = 0·02). However, OJ consumption was not associated with 2-year change in BMI percentile (kg/m2, mean (se)): -0·44 (0·36) for non-consumers, 0·20 (0·41) for 1-3 glasses/month, -0·04 (0·34) for 1-6 glasses/week and -0·77 (0·62) for ≥1 glass/d in girls, Ptrend = 0·81; -0·94 (0·53) for non-consumers, -1·68 (0·52) for 1-3 glasses/month, -0·81 (0·38) for 1-6 glasses per week and -1·12 (0·61) for ≥1 glass/d in boys, Ptrend = 0·49.Conclusion: OJ consumption was favourably associated with height growth but unrelated to excess weight gain. OJ may be a useful alternative to whole fruit in the event that whole fruit intake is insufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The macroeconomic environment has been shown to affect health-care service utilization. We examined the relationship between unemployment rate and service intensity among a nationally representative sample of primary care office visits from Medicare patients by merging data from the 2006-2012 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey with unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Multispecialty practices demonstrated increases in the number of electrocardiogram tests prescribed and the number of return appointments scheduled. In contrast, single-specialty practices did not respond on those margins and instead increased the likelihood of administering diagnostic and screening examinations. We found no significant relationship between unemployment rates and the number of laboratory and imaging services, magnetic resonance imaging use, referrals, or medication prescribing. These results were robust to controlling for extensive visit characteristics and county-, year-, and month-fixed effects. Our results suggest that physicians responded to the Great Recession by changing their practice behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Exercise therapy is a key intervention in the management of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and recommended in international guidelines on KOA management. An effective home-exercise programme for frail older adults with KOA was successful in achieving high adherence. This randomised controlled trial was to compare the adherence to the exercise and lasting effects of follow-up 3 months. Methods Sixty-eight participants in the original Wuqinxi (WQX) exercise study were community dwelling older adults (age = 70.95 ± 9.85 years) with KOA were categorised into 34 controls group, 34 WQX group adherers. The Western Ontario and Mc Master Universities Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire score (WOMAC) pain and Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, 6-min Walk Test, 30-s chair stand test, isokinetic muscle strength testing of knee flexion and extension measured at pre-test and post-test of the intervention period and follow-up for two groups. Results The WQX group maintained or improved in all nine measures from post-test to follow-up, whereas the control group significantly declined in WOMAC pain, Knee extensor strength and Knee flexor strength. Conclusion The WQX programme was an effective home-exercise programme that achieves high adherence in older adults with KOA who lived in these communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an individualized nomogram to predict venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk in hospitalized postoperative breast cancer patients. Design: A single‐central retrospective and non‐interventional trial. Methods: For model development, we used data from 4,755 breast cancer patients between 1 November 2016–30 June 2018 (3,310 patients in the development group and 1,445 in the validation group). Overall, 216 patients developed VTE (150 in development group and 66 in validation group). The model was validated by receiver operating characteristic curves and the calibration plot. The clinical utility of the model was determined through decision curve analysis. Results: The individualized nomogram consisted of six clinical factors: age, body mass index, number of cardiovascular comorbidities, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgical treatment, hospital length of stay and two pre‐operative biomarkers of Homocysteine and D‐dimer. The model at the 3.9% optimal cut‐off had the area under the curve of 0.854 (95% CI, 0.824–0.884) and 0.805 (95% CI, 0.740–0.870) in the development and validation groups. A p = 0.570 of the calibration test showed that the model was well‐calibrated. The net benefit of the model was better between threshold probabilities of 5%–30% in decision curve analysis. Conclusion: The nomogram of VTE risk assessment, is applicable to hospitalized postoperative breast cancer patients. However, multi‐central prospective studies are needed to improve and validate the model. Effectiveness and safety of thromboprophylaxis in high‐risk patients are needed to demonstrate in interventional trials. Impact: This nomogram can be used in clinical to inform practice of physicians and nurses to predict the VTE probability and maybe direct personalized decision making for thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized postoperative breast cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Context: Open-door laminoplasty often results in postoperative complications such as loss of cervical lordosis, limitations of cervical motion, and axial symptoms. However, current modified laminoplasty techniques such as muscle-sparing type or spinous process splitting technique are not as effective as expected.Purpose: To evaluate the radiological and clinical outcomes of C3 laminectomy combined with modified unilateral laminoplasty (preservation of posterior muscle-ligament complex and reconstruction of the midline structures) versus traditional open door laminoplasty in treating cervical spondylotic myelopathy or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.Study Design: Retrospective case-control study.Patient Sample: One hundred and eleven patients with multilevel cord compression and myelopathic symptoms.Outcome Measures: The outcome parameters were operation time, blood loss volume, complications, osseous fusion status, C0-C2 and C2-C7 Cobb angles, T1 slope, cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA), cervical curvature index (CCI), range of motion (ROM), cross-sectional area (CSA) of the semispinalis cervicis, axial symptoms, visual analog scale (VAS) score, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, and neck disability index (NDI).Methods: We matched 37 patients who underwent modified laminoplasty with 74 patients treated by traditional open door laminoplasty (ratio, 1:2) according to age, sex, body mass index, compromised level, and radiographic characteristics. Preoperative and postoperative cervical parameters, namely, the C2-C7 Cobb angle, ROM, and CCI were measured on X-ray films. The CSA of the semispinalis cervicis was assessed on magnetic resonance images, and osseous fusion status of the hinge side and the osteotomy site was evaluated by computed tomography. We used the JOA and VAS scores, and the NDI to evaluate clinical outcomes.Results: The average follow-up period in the modified group was 24.1 months (range, 18-37 months) compared with 24.7 months (range, 18-38 months) in the control group. At the final follow-up, C0-C2 Cobb angle, T1 slope, and cSVA increased in the control group and were unchanged in the modified group. The C2-C7 Cobb angle decreased significantly in the control group and did not change in the modified group. ROM and CCI loss rate did not change in the modified group but decreased significantly in the control group. The CSA loss in the semispinalis cervicis was 222.90±79.56 mm2 in the control group and 49.11±75.93 mm2 in the modified group, with a significant difference (p<.001). The final CSA of the semispinalis cervicis at C2 and C4-C7 levels showed no significant difference in the modified group and decreased significantly in the control group compared with preoperation. Changes in the C2-C7 Cobb angle and cSVA were both correlated with the CSA loss of the semispinalis cervicis (r=0.282, p=.003; r=0.267, p=.005, respectively). Moreover, the CSA loss of the semispinalis cervicis also correlated with the CCI loss rate and the changes in ROM (r=0.312, p=.001; r=0.287, p=.002, respectively). Clinical outcomes such as VAS and NDI scores, improved significantly more in the modified group versus the controls (p<.001 and p=.005, respectively), while JOA scores improved similarly in both groups (p=.132). The incidence of axial symptoms was significantly lower in the modified group versus controls (5.4% vs 9.5%, respectively; p=.023).Conclusions: C3 laminectomy combined with modified unilateral laminoplasty is effective for treating patients with multilevel cord compression. This modified technique reconstructs the midline structures and may lead to improved alignment and less axial pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Data are scarce on sexually transmitted infection (STI) treatment-seeking behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. The purpose of the study was to characterize the first response to STI symptoms, treatment-seeking behavior, and its associated factors among MSM in China.Methods: A cross-sectional study with convenience sampling design was conducted in 13 cities from April to July 2017. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect information on demographics, STI symptoms, and treatment-seeking behavior. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate variables associated with not seeking treatment.Results: Among 3925 recruited participants, 628 (16.0%) reported STI symptoms in the past 12 months and were included in the analysis. Upon or after being notified of the symptoms, MSM sought help from various sources or self-tested using rapid testing kits. Only 322(51.3%) went to see a doctor in clinic. In multiple logistic regression analyses, younger age, lower income, less STI knowledge (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-2.5), not knowing own STI risk (AOR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.7), no symptoms of anogenital ulcers (AOR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.3-3.8) or anogenital warts (AOR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.6-3.7), no syphilis testing in the past 12 months (AOR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.5-3.0) were associated with higher probability of not seeking treatment in clinics.Conclusions: We found a high prevalence of STI symptoms among MSM and only half sought treatment. Prevention efforts should promote STI education, testing, and adequate treatment-seeking behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The role of tea consumption on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been studied in recent years, but no clear conclusion has been drawn as a result of small sample size of the studies or the fact that only in vitro studies have been performed. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the possible association of tea consumption with RA through a large-scale, real-world study. Methods: A total of 733 RA patients were investigated from June to December, 2016. The disease activity of RA was assessed according to disease activity score 28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The amount and types of tea consumption were recorded by on-site self-administered questionnaires. Logistic regression models were applied to analyze the correlation between tea consumption and disease activity, adjusting for demographics, clinical and laboratory factors. Results: There was an inverse association between tea consumption and disease activity in RA patients (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.46–0.94). Compared with non-tea drinkers, a higher-intake of tea (>750 mL/day) was associated with lower disease activity of RA (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.19–0.79), but not low-intake (≤750 mL/day; OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.42–1.63). A significant dose-response association was found between the amount of tea consumption and disease activity (p for trend <0.01). Further hierarchical regression analysis showed that such inverse associations were mainly present in female patients (p = 0.004), non-smokers (p = 0.01) or elders (≥60 years; p = 0.01). Conclusion: Tea consumption is associated with decreased disease activity of RA, suggesting the potential beneficial effect of tea in the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: A prospective and controlled study of dexmedetomidine added to preemptive ropivacaine infiltration in lumbar fusion surgery.Objective: Assessment of dexmedetomidine added to preemptive ropivacaine infiltration for the relief of postoperative pain after lumbar fusion surgery.Summary Of Background Data: Single local anesthetic preemptive wound infiltration for the relief of postoperative pain does not translate into major or consistent clinical benefits after lumbar fusion surgery. Dexmedetomidine added to local anesthetics prolonged the duration of blockade and enhanced the analgesic in peripheral nerve block. The effect of dexmedetomidine added to preemptive ropivacaine infiltration in lumbar fusion surgery for the relief of postoperative pain has yet not been studied.Methods: Fifty-seven patients with elective posterior lumbar fusion were randomly divided into two groups. Five minutes before incision, the skin and subcutaneous tissues were injected with 20 mL 0.5% ropivacaine in group R (n = 28) and 20 mL 0.5% ropivacaine and 1 ug/kg of dexmedetomidine in group RD (n = 29) in two divided doses (i.e., 10 mL per side of the incision line). After the operation, all patients received intravenous morphine for analgesia. The total morphine consumption, the time of first analgesic demand, numbers of PCA analgesia, Visual Analog Scale, and postoperative adverse effects were collected.Results: In group RD, cumulative morphine dose and numbers of PCA analgesia in group RD were significantly reduced, the time of first analgesic demand was significantly delayed compared to the group R. Visual Analog Scale in group RD showed a marked reduction at 8 hours, 12 hours, 16 hours after operation and less patients in group RD experienced postoperative nausea or vomiting compared to the group R.Conclusion: The addition of dexmedetomidine to preemptive ropivacaine wound infiltration provided a superior analgesic effect, reduced postoperative morphine consumption, and prolonged the time of the first analgesic demand with no serious side effects.Level Of Evidence: 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the authors present their study which examined the effects of lifestyle intervention in maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on the growth pattern of newborns before two years of age. In the research, a population-based randomized controlled trial (RCT) was carried out in Tianjin, China. The study compared the effectiveness of intensive care (IC) against usual care (UC) on adverse pregnancy results in patients with GDM.

Background and Aims: Glypican-1 (GPC1), a cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan, promotes the pathogenesis of many human cancers. This study focuses on the role of GPC1 in the promotion of cell proliferation and motility in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods: The expression and distribution of GPC1 were measured in tumor tissues from 248 ESCC patients using immunohistochemical (IHC) assays. Cell counting (kit-8), flow cytometry, Transwell, wound healing, IHC, and Western blotting assays were performed to examine the molecular mechanisms that underlie how GPC1 enhances cell proliferation and motility.Results: The level of GPC1 was higher in ESCC tumor samples than in para-tumor tissues (IHC score: 5.42 ± 2.15 vs. 0.86 ± 0.96). Ectopic overexpression of GPC1 in EC9706 cells promoted cell growth and the G1/S phase transition; conversely, GPC1 knockdown in Eca109 cells attenuated cell proliferation and induced G2/M phase arrest. In addition, GPC1 upregulation enhanced ESCC cell motility and induced epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), as demonstrated by the aberrant expression of EMT markers. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that GPC1 increased levels of p-Akt and β-catenin and reduced PTEN expression in ESCC.Conclusions: Our study indicated that GPC1 promotes the aggressive proliferation of ESCC cells by regulating the PTEN/Akt/β-catenin pathway. GPC1 may be a promising target for ESCC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of quantitative parameters which generated in different regions of interests (ROIs) of benign and malignant breast lesions using contrast-enhanced sonography(CEUS).Materials and Methods: 130 patients were evaluated with contrast harmonic imaging after the injection of a bolus dose of 4.8 ml SonoVue (Bracco Sp A, Milan, Italy). Quantitative analyses using the TIC were performed in two types of ROI (manually tracing the whole lesions and using 3-mm rectangular sampling frames to depict local lesions).Wash in slope (WIS), rise time (RT), time to peak (TTP),peak intensity (PI),strengthening intensity (SI),wash out slope(WOS) and mean transit time(MTT) were investigated in each ROI, SI includes the strengthening intensity of the lesion itself(SIs) and its strengthening intensity relative to the reference area(SIr).Results: Pathologic analysis showed 52 benign and 78 malignant lesions. There were significant differences in the quantitative parameters obtained by the two ROI types (P < 0.05). There were significant differences between benign and malignant lesions in the WIS-e(P < 0.05), TTP-e(P < 0.05), and SIr-e (P < 0.05) for the manual ROI. Significant differences were found between benign and malignant lesions in the WIS-l(P < 0.05), TTP-l(P < 0.05), PI-l(P < 0.05), SIs-l(P < 0.05), and SIr-l (P < 0.05) for the 3-mm ROI. The regression equation obtained by ROI-e was P = 1/[1 + e-(2.65-0.184TTP-e)]. The regression equation obtained by ROI-l was P = 1/[1 + e-(2.472+0.024SIr-l-0.279TTP-l)]. There was statistically significant difference in the diagnostic efficacy between the two ROI types (P < 0.05).Conclusions: CEUS quantitative analysis has a certain value in the diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions. The ROI type which depicts local lesions can better reflect the hemodynamic characteristics of the lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Deciding on public funding for pharmaceuticals on the basis of value for money is now widespread. We suggest that evidence-based assessment of value has restricted the availability of medicines in Australia in a way that reflects the relative bargaining power of government and the pharmaceutical industry. We propose a simple informal game-theoretic model of bargaining between the funding agency and industry and test its predictions using a logistic multiple regression model of past funding decisions made by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee in Australia.Method: The model estimates the probability of a drug being recommended for subsidy as a function of incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY), as well as other drug and market characteristics. Data are major submissions or resubmissions from 1993 to 2009 where there was a claim of superiority and evidence of a difference in quality of life. Independent variables measure the incremental cost per QALY, the cost to the public budget, the strength and quality of the clinical and economic evidence, need as measured by severity of illness and the availability of alternative treatments, whether or not a resubmission, and newspaper reports as a measure of public pressure. We report the odds ratio for each variable and calculate the ratio of the marginal effect of each variable to the marginal effect of the cost per QALY as a measure of the revealed willingness to pay for each of the variables that influence the decision.Results: The results are consistent with a bargaining model where a 10,000 Australian dollar ($A) fall in value (increase in cost per QALY) reduces the average probability of public funding from 37 to 33% (95% CI 34-32). If the condition is life threatening or the drug has no active comparator, then the odds of a positive recommendation are 3.18 (95% CI 1.00-10.11) and 2.14 (95% CI 0.95-4.83) greater, equivalent to a $A33,000 and a $A21,000 increase in value (fall in cost per QALY). If both conditions are met, the odds are increased by 4.41 (95% CI 1.28-15.24) times, equivalent to an increase in value of $A46,000. Funding is more likely as time elapses and price falls, but we did not find clear evidence that public or corporate pressure influences decisions.Conclusion: Evidence from Australia suggests that the determinants of public funding and pricing decisions for medicines reflect the relative bargaining power of government and drug companies. Value for money depends on the quality of evidence, timing, patient need, perceived benefit and opportunity cost; these factors reflect the potential gains from striking a bargain and the risk of loss from not doing so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) is relatively contraindicated in cirrhotic portal hypertension (CPH) patients with complicating hypersplenic splenomegaly (HS). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of incorporation of iodized oil and gelatin sponge embolization to conventional splenic artery embolization (cSAE) with coiling in CPH/HS patients undergoing LS.Patients and Methods: Between April 2012 and March 2014, eligible CPH/HS patients (n = 56) were assigned to preoperative modified SAE (mSAE) with LS (mSAE+LS group, n = 16), cSAE with LS (cSAE+LS group, n = 20) or LS alone (LS group, n = 20). Main outcome measures included frequency of conversion to laparotomy, operative time, intraoperative bleeding, and transfusion.Results: The three groups had similar baseline characteristics (all P > .05). mSAE and cSAE similarly decreased LS conversion frequency (mSAE+LS versus cSAE+LS versus LS, 0.0% versus 10.0% versus 30.0%, P = .030) and operative time (155 ± 23 minutes versus 170 ± 26 minutes versus 221 ± 42 minutes, P < .001) compared with LS alone. mSAE significantly reduced bleeding (178 ± 22 mL versus 250 ± 27 mL versus 328 ± 67 mL, P < .001) compared with cSAE and LS alone. The three groups had similar postoperative recovery times and surgical morbidities (all P > .05).Conclusions: In CPH/HS patients, preoperative SAE reduced LS conversion frequency and reduced operative time compared with LS alone, while mSAE further decreased volume of blood loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study compared the efficacy of ultrasound elastography (UE), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the combination of the two methods (UE+MRI) in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast tumors. In total, 86 patients with breast masses were recruited and evaluated by UE, MRI and UE+MRI. Strain ratios of UE were calculated for the breast mass and adjacent normal tissues. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was obtained, while the sensitivity and specificity were calculated to determine the optimal cut‑off point for the differential diagnosis. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was also calculated to evaluate the diagnostic performance of these methods. The results indicated that the diagnostic accuracy of UE+MRI was significantly higher compared with the UE or MRI methods in the differential diagnosis of invasive ductal, invasive lobular, intraductal papillary, medullary and mucinous carcinomas (all P<0.05). The optimal cut‑off points of ROC curve of the Strain Ratio in the diagnosis of breast lesions were 2.81, 3.76 and 3.42 for UE, MRI and UE+MRI, respectively. Furthermore, the AUC values were 86.7, 79.2 and 91.4%, while the diagnostic accuracy rates were 82.5, 75.5 and 95.3%, for UE, MRI and UE+MRI, respectively. Accuracy rate differences between UE and MRI or between UE and UE+MRI were statistically significant (P<0.05), whereas no significant difference existed between MRI and UE+MRI (P>0.05). Finally, the diagnostic consistency of the UE+MRI method with the pathological diagnosis was higher compared with UE or MRI alone. In conclusion, the combination of UE and MRI is superior to the use of UE or MRI alone in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast masses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farfarae Flos (FF) is widely used for the treatment of cough, bronchitis, and asthmatic disorders in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). According to the experience of TCM, only the flower bud can be used as herbal drug, and its medicinal quality becomes lower after blooming. However, the underlying scientific basis for this phenomenon is not fully understood. In this study, the chemical components and the bioactivities of the FF collected at three different development stages were compared systematically. NMR based fingerprint coupled with multivariate analysis showed that the flower buds differed greatly from the fully opened flower both on the secondary and primary metabolites, and the animal experiments showed that the fully opened flower exhibited no antitussive or expectorant effect. In addition, the endogenous metabolites correlated with the antitussive and expectorant effect of FF were also identified. These findings are useful for understanding the rationality of the traditional use of FF, and also suggested the components responsible for the antitussive and expectorant effect of FF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tai Chi (TC) is a recommended exercise for elderly people; however, its loading on the joints of the lower limbs is unknown. This study examined the 3D kinetics of the lower limbs during two typical TC movements and walking in the elderly. Fifteen experienced TC practitioners participated. Ground reaction forces, joint moments and time-to-peak joint moment generation were analysed. Compared with walking, both TC movements generated significantly (1) smaller peak ground reaction forces in all directions, except the anterior; (2) larger hip extension, adduction and internal rotational moments, knee adduction/abduction and internal rotation moments and eversion/inversion and external/internal moments of ankle-foot; and (3) longer peak moment generation time for hip extension, adduction and internal rotation, knee extension and ankle dorsiflexion and inversion. The TC loading patterns are consistent with the mechanical behaviour of biological tissues, which could help to strengthen the lower extremities and prevent falls in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Joint salvage surgery for patients with juxtaarticular osteosarcoma remains challenging, especially when the tumor invades the epiphysis. Because patients are surviving longer with current chemotherapy regimens, it is advantageous to retain native joints if possible, especially in young patients. However, the results using joint-preserving tumor resections in this context have not been well characterized.Questions/purposes: (1) What are the functional outcomes after limb salvage surgery at a minimum of 3 years? (2) What are the oncologic outcomes? (3) Is joint salvage surgery for epiphyseal tumors associated with an increased risk of local recurrence compared with metaphyseal tumors not invading the epiphysis? (4) What are the complications associated with joint salvage surgery?Methods: Between 2004 and 2013, we treated 117 patients with juxtaarticular osteosarcoma; of those, 43 (38%) were treated with joint salvage surgery, and 41 (95%) of the 43 patients are included in our study. The other two (5%) were lost to followup before 3 years (mean, 4.4 years; range, 3-11 years,). During the period in question, we generally performed joint salvage surgery in these patients when they had a favorable response to chemotherapy, did not have a pathologic fracture or extrusion of the tumor into the joint, and did not have a whole-epiphyseal osteolytic lesion, a large mass, or obvious neurovascular involvement. This report is a followup of an earlier study; the current study includes an additional nine patients, and additional followup of a mean of 19 months for the patients included in the earlier report. We ascertained overall survival and survival free from local recurrence which was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, functional status of the limb which was evaluated using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS)-93 scoring system, and recorded reconstructive complications including infection, fracture, skin necrosis, and nonunion. We compared oncologic and functional outcomes between patients with (n = 28) and without tumor extension to epiphysis (n =13). We also compared oncologic and functional outcomes among patients with different adjuvant treatments including microwave ablation (n = 11), cryoablation (n = 12), and navigation-assisted osteotomy (n = 5). Complications were tallied using records from our institutional database.Results: The overall Kaplan-Mayer survival rate was 82% (95% CI, 104-128 months) at 5 years. The overall Kaplan-Meier survivorship from local recurrence was 91% at 5 years (95% CI, 115-133 months). Three patients had a local recurrence, but none had local recurrence in or close to the remaining epiphysis. The MSTS scores ranged from 22 to 30 points, with a median of 28. There were no differences in survival rate, local recurrence, or MSTS scores between patients with a tumor that did not invade the epiphysis and those in whom the tumor did invade the epiphysis. There were differences in MSTS scores among patients with epiphyseal tumor extension in which different adjuvant techniques, including microwave ablation, cryoablation, and navigation-assisted osteotomy, were used. Additional surgical procedures were recorded for 10 patients (24%). Osteonecrosis of the residual epiphysis was detected 13 patients (31%).Conclusions: Our findings suggest it is possible to salvage joints in selected patients with juxtaarticular osteosarcoma around the knee. The patients who have a favorable response to chemotherapy are the best candidates for this approach. Future studies might explore the role of adjuvant techniques of microwave ablation and cryoablation, particularly when the tumor invades the epiphysis, and whether resections can be facilitated with navigation.Level Of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dual-fuel combustion mode has drawn much attention due to its high thermal efficiency and low emissions. In this study, to realize the dual-fuel combustion, n-butanol was selected as the port-injected fuel (PIF); whereas two C8-biofuels, i.e., n-octanol and di- n -butyl ether (DNBE), were used as the direct-injected fuels, respectively. A comparative study between n-butanol/n-octanol and n-butanol/DNBE fueled dual-fuel engines in terms of their combustion and emissions characteristics was numerically carried out with the KIVA4-CHEMKIN code. The energy fractions of PIF varied from 0 to 0.4 at 1500 rpm and 2280 rpm. The results show that with the PIF increasing, the peak pressure and CO emissions increase, while the combustion duration gets shorter. Though adding more n-butanol contributes to a lower global fuel reactivity, the ignition delay is still shortened. Compared with the n-butanol/n-octanol engine, the n-butanol/DNBE engine exhibits a shorter ignition delay due to the high reactivity of DNBE. Also, it has a lower maximum pressure rise rate and longer combustion duration for its diffusion combustion phase. Consequently, a higher indicated thermal efficiency and much lower CO emissions are observed in the n-butanol/DNBE dual-fuel engine, with the expense of a slight increase in NOx emissions. • Isomers n-octanol and DNBE were applied to n-butanol premixed dual-fuel engines. • Effects of fuel fractions on the two types of dual-fuel engines were investigated. • More n-butanol leads to higher peak pressure and shorter combustion duration. • N -butanol/n-octanol engine exhibits a longer ignition delay. • N -butanol/DNBE engine has a higher thermal efficiency and a lower MPRR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microsatellites are found in taxonomically different organisms, and such repeats are related with genomic structure, function and certain diseases. To characterize microsatellites for macaques, we searched and compared SSRs with 1-6 bp nucleotide motifs in rhesus, cynomolgus and pigtailed macaque. A total of 1395671, 1284929 and 1266348 perfect SSRs were mined, respectively. The most frequent perfect SSRs were mononucleotide SSRs. The most GC-content was in dinucleotide SSRs and the least was in the mononucleotide SSRs. Chromosome size was positively correlated with SSR number and negatively correlated with the relative frequency and density of SSRs. The GC content of chromosome SSRs were negatively correlated with relative frequency of SSRs and GC content of chromosome sequences. The features of microsatellite distribution in assembled genomes of the three species were greatly similar, which revealed that the distributional pattern of microsatellites is probably conservative in genus Macaca. The degenerated number of repeat motifs was found to be different in pentanucleotide and hexanucleotide repeats. Species-specific motifs for each macaque were significantly underrepresented. Overall, SSR frequencies of each chromosome in rhesus macaque were higher than in cynomolgus macaque. The maximum repeat times of mono- to pentanucleotide repeats in cynomolgus macaque was more than other two macaques. These results emphasize the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of genus Macaca species. Our data will be beneficial for comparative genome mapping, understanding the distribution of SSRs and genome structure between these animal models, and provide a foundation for further development and identification of more macaque-specific SSRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Hyperalgesia or increased sensitivity to pain is often found in alcoholics during alcohol withdrawal and may contribute to relapse drinking. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture and electroacupuncture ( EA), through mechanisms involving opioid receptors, may reduce pain and substance dependence and withdrawal syndromes. The lateral habenula ( LHb), an epithalamic structure rich in mu opioid receptors ( MORs), is a critical target for both drugs of abuse and pain. We previously observed hyperalgesia in rats withdrawn from chronic ethanol (EtOH) drinking and found that EA at the acupoint Zusanli ( ST36) reduced EtOH intake. This raised question of whether EA can alleviate hyperalgesia during alcohol withdrawal and, if so, whether the mechanism involves MORs in the LHb. Methods We trained male rats to drink EtOH using the intermittent access 20% EtOH 2-bottle free-choice drinking paradigm for 8 weeks, after which the alcohol supply was discontinued. We measured pain sensitivity using radiant heat (a light beam directed at the hind paw of rats) and compared the paw withdrawal latencies ( PWLs) with and without EA at ST36. Results The PWLs were significantly shorter in rats at 24, 48, and 72 hours and 7 days after the discontinuation of EtOH when compared to EtOH-naïve rats. After a single administration of 2-Hz EA for 20 minutes at ST36, the PWLs at 24 hours after the withdrawal of EtOH were significantly greater than those of the sham group (2-Hz EA at the tail). Furthermore, the effect of EA on PWLs was significantly attenuated by bilateral intrahabenula infusion of the MOR antagonist naltrexone. Conclusions These results suggest that EA can alleviate hyperalgesia during EtOH withdrawal through a mechanism involving MORs in the habenula. Based on this, EA could be of potential value as a therapy for hyperalgesia in alcohol dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the normal and parallel ground reaction forces during downhill and uphill running in habitual forefoot strike and habitual rearfoot strike (RFS) runners. Fifteen habitual forefoot strike and 15 habitual RFS recreational male runners ran at 3 m/s ± 5% during level, uphill and downhill overground running on a ramp mounted at 6° and 9°. Results showed that forefoot strike runners had no visible impact peak in all running conditions, while the impact peaks only decreased during the uphill conditions in RFS runners. Active peaks decreased during the downhill conditions in forefoot strike runners while active loading rates increased during downhill conditions in RFS runners. Compared to the level condition, parallel braking peaks were larger during downhill conditions and parallel propulsive peaks were larger during uphill conditions. Combined with previous biomechanics studies, our findings suggest that forefoot strike running may be an effective strategy to reduce impacts, especially during downhill running. These findings may have further implications towards injury management and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia occurs when dissolved oxygen (DO) falls below 2.8 mg L −1 in aquatic environments. It can cause trans-generational effects not only in fish, but also in the water fleas Daphnia . In this study, transcriptome sequencing analysis was employed to identify transcriptomic alterations induced by hypoxia in embryos of Daphnia magna , with an aim to investigate the mechanism underlying the trans-generational effects caused by hypoxia in Daphnia . The embryos (F1) were collected from adults (F0) that were previously exposed to hypoxia (or normoxia) for their whole life. De novo transcriptome assembly identified 18270 transcripts that were matched to the UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot database and resulted in 7419 genes. Comparative transcriptome analysis showed 124 differentially expressed genes, including 70 up- and 54 down-regulated genes under hypoxia. Gene ontology analysis further highlighted three clusters of genes which revealed acclimatory changes of haemoglobin, suppression in vitellogenin gene family and histone modifications. Specifically, the expressions of histone H2B, H3, H4 and histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) were deregulated. This study suggested that trans-generational effects of hypoxia on Daphnia may be mediated through epigenetic regulations of histone modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchical porous mullite monoliths have been prepared via a sol–gel process accompanied by phase separation. Propylene oxide (PO) acted as an acid scavenger to mediate the gelation, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as the phase-separation inducer and network former, aluminum chloride hexahydrate (AlCl 3 ·6H 2 O) as the aluminum source. The route was improved by using hypotoxic tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and nontoxic aqueous colloidal silica (Aq) instead of tetramethoxysilane (TMOS). The synthesis mechanism and microstructural development were comparatively investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and nitrogen adsorption–desorption. It was found that the mixing degree of precursors and concurrent process of gelation and phase separation are key elements to get well-defined hierarchical porous mullite monoliths. In addition, the monoliths with high relative crystallinity are more likely to be obtained under low transformation temperature in organic silicon sources system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to facilely develop amino modified mesoporous silica xerogel synthesized using biomimetic method (B-AMSX) and to investigate its potential ability to be a drug carrier for loading poorly water-soluble drug indomethacin (IMC). For comparison, mesoporous silica xerogel without amino modification (B-MSX) was also synthesized using the same method. The changes of characteristics before and after IMC loading were systemically studied using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis. The results showed that B-MSX and B-AMSX were spherical nanoparticles with mesoporous structure. Compared with B-MSX, IMC loading capacity of B-AMSX was higher because more drug molecules can be loaded through stronger hydrogen bonding force. DSC and SAXS analysis confirmed the amorphous state of IMC after being loaded into B-MSX and B-AMSX. The in vitro drug release study revealed that B-MSX and B-AMSX improved IMC release significantly, and B-AMSX released IMC a little faster than B-MSX because of larger pore diameter of IMC-AMSX. B-MSX and B-AMSX degraded gradually in dissolution medium evidenced by color reaction and absorbance value, and B-AMSX degraded slower than B-MSX due to amino modification. In conclusion, B-AMSX with superiority of higher loading capacity and enhanced dissolution release can be considered to be a good candidate as drug carrier for IMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-saliency detection, an emerging research area in saliency detection, aims to extract the common saliency from the multi images. The extracted co-saliency map has been utilized in various applications, such as in co-segmentation, co-recognition and so on. With the rapid development of image acquisition technology, the original digital images are becoming more and more clearly. The existing co-saliency detection methods processing these images need enormous computer memory along with high computational complexity. These limitations made it hard to satisfy the demand of real-time user interaction. This paper proposes a fast co-saliency detection method based on the image block partition and sparse feature extraction method (BSFCoS). Firstly, the images are divided into several uniform blocks, and the low-level features are extracted from Lab and RGB color spaces. In order to maintain the characteristics of the original images and reduce the number of feature points as well as possible, Truncated Power for sparse principal components method are employed to extract sparse features. Furthermore, K-Means method is adopted to cluster the extracted sparse features, and calculate the three salient feature weights. Finally, the co-saliency map was acquired from the feature fusion of the saliency map for single image and multi images. The proposed method has been tested and simulated on two benchmark datasets: Co-saliency Pairs and CMU Cornell iCoseg datasets. Compared with the existing co-saliency methods, BSFCoS has a significant running time improvement in multi images processing while ensuring detection results. Lastly, the co-segmentation method based on BSFCoS is also given and has a better co-segmentation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) is common in male patients under general anesthesia, and it may cause patient agitation and exacerbated postoperative pain. In this study, we will enroll male patients undergoing elective surgery with urinary catheterization after anesthetic induction and compare the efficacy of a dorsal penile nerve block (DPNB) and intravenous tramadol for the prevention of CRBD.Methods/design: This trial is a prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial that will test the superiority of a dorsal penile nerve block with 0.33% ropivacaine to the use of intravenous tramadol 1.5 mg/kg for CRBD prevention. A total of 60 male patients undergoing elective surgery with urinary catheterization after anesthetic induction will be randomized to receive either DPNB with 0.33% ropivacaine (DPNB group) or intravenous tramadol 1.5 mg/kg (TRAM group) after the completion of surgery but before extubation. The primary outcome is the incidence and severity of CRBD. Secondary outcomes include Visual Analog Score (VAS) for postoperative pain, number of patients requiring sulfentanil after operation, acceptance of an indwelling urinary catheter after extraction of the catheter, and postoperative side effects, which include postoperative nausea/vomiting (PONV), vertigo, sedation, drowsiness, and dry mouth.Discussion: For CRBD prevention, this trial is planned to test the superiority of a dorsal penile nerve block with 0.33% ropivacaine to the use of intravenous tramadol 1.5 mg/kg. The results will provide new insight into the mechanism of CRBD and new clinical practice for the prevention of CRBD.Trial Registration: The registration number is NCT01721031, which was assigned by the National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Registry (ClinicalTrials.gov) on 27 October 27. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Badminton players often perform powerful and long-distance lunges during such competitive matches. The objective of this study is to compare the plantar loads of three one-step maximum forward lunges in badminton. Methods: Fifteen right-handed male badminton players participated in the study. Each participant performed five successful maximum lunges at three directions. For each direction, the participant wore three different shoe brands. Plantar loading, including peak pressure, maximum force, and contact area, was measured by using an insole pressure measurement system. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was employed to determine the effects of the different lunge directions and different shoes, as well as the interaction of these two variables, on the measurements. Results: The maximum force (MF) on the lateral midfoot was lower when performing left-forward lunges than when performing front-forward lunges (p = 0.006, 95% CI = −2.88 to −0.04%BW). The MF and peak pressures (PP) on the great toe region were lower for the front-forward lunge than for the right-forward lunge (MF, p = 0.047, 95% CI = −3.62 to −0.02%BW; PP, p = 0.048, 95% CI = −37.63 to −0.16 KPa) and left-forward lunge (MF, p = 0.015, 95% CI = −4.39 to −0.38%BW; PP, p = 0.008, 95% CI = −47.76 to −5.91 KPa). Conclusions: These findings indicate that compared with the front-forward lunge, left and right maximum forward lunges induce greater plantar loads on the great toe region of the dominant leg of badminton players. The differences in the plantar loads of the different lunge directions may be potential risks for injuries to the lower extremities of badminton players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of camellia oil (saturated fatty acid: monounsaturated fatty acid: polyunsaturated fatty acid = 1:7:1) after frying potatoes was compared with palm oil (saturated fatty acid: monounsaturated fatty acid: polyunsaturated fatty acid = 4:4:1) and peanut oil (saturated fatty acid: monounsaturated fatty acid: polyunsaturated fatty acid = 2:4:4). Oil samples were evaluated for acid value, iodine value, peroxide value, p-anisidine value, total oxidation value, tocopherols content, and fatty acids composition. There was the least change in fatty acid composition in camellia oil among the three edible oils. The α-tocopherol was more vulnerable to heat degradation than γ-tocopherol and δ-tocopherol, and α-tocopherol was completely degraded before the whole frying process was done for palm and peanut oils. The oxidative stabilities of the three edible oils were in the order of camellia oil > palm oil > peanut oil. The oxidative stability was mainly determined by the calculated oxidizability value related to fatty acid composition, and when calculated oxidizability values were similar, the tocopherol contents of edible oils would be a key factor in affecting their oxidative stabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Spatiotemporally encoded (SPEN) single-shot MRI is an ultrafast MRI technique proposed recently, which utilizes quadratic rather than linear phase profile to extract the spatial information. Compared to the echo planar imaging (EPI), this technique has great advantages in resisting field inhomogeneity and chemical shift effects. Super-resolved (SR) reconstruction is adopted to compensate the inherent low resolution of SPEN images. Due to insufficient sampling rate, the SR image is challenged by aliasing artifacts and edge ghosts. The existing SR algorithms always compromise in spatial resolution to suppress these undesirable artifacts. In this paper, we proposed a novel SR algorithm termed super-resolved enhancing and edge deghosting (SEED). Different from artifacts suppression methods, our algorithm aims at exploiting the relationship between aliasing artifacts and real signal. Based on this relationship, the aliasing artifacts can be eliminated without spatial resolution loss. According to the trait of edge ghosts, finite differences and high-pass filter are employed to extract the prior knowledge of edge ghosts. By combining the prior knowledge with compressed sensing, our algorithm can efficiently reduce the edge ghosts. The robustness of SEED is demonstrated by experiments under various situations. The results indicate that the SEED can provide better spatial resolution compared to state-of-the-art SR reconstruction algorithms in SPEN MRI. Theoretical analysis and experimental results also show that the SR images reconstructed by SEED have better spatial resolution than the images obtained with conventional k -space encoding methods under similar experimental condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cu4 cluster catalyst show a highest NH 3 yield of 2.18 μg h−1 mg−1 and a FE of 0.97 % at −0.6 V. [Display omitted] • An tetra-nuclear copper(II) cluster has been designed and synthesized for Electrocatalytic N 2 reduction reaction (NRR). • The newly tetra-nuclear copper cluster catalyst shows a highest NH 3 yield of 2.18 μg h-1 mg-1 and a FE of 0.97 % at -0.6 V. • This work provides some structure information about the possible active sites during the NRR process. Using the atomic precisely structurally characterized clusters as electrocatalysts can provide some possible structure information about the active intermediate during the electrocatalytic N 2 reduction reaction (NRR) process. A Cu4 cluster, named [(bpy) 4 Cu 4 (C 10 H 8 SO 3) 4 (OH) 4 ]•4H 2 O (1), has been synthesized and fully characterized by IR, SXRD, XPS, EPR, et al. Single crystal structural analysis reveals that the core structure of the cluster has a step-scheme conformation with two μ 2 -OH and two μ 3 -OH groups. Electro-catalysis studies of this cluster show that it can achieve a highest NH 3 yield of 2.18 μg h−1 mg−1 and a FE of 0.97 % at −0.6 V. The excellent NRR performance may be attributable to the additional μ 3 -OH groups, based on the contrastively study of the other electrocatalysts of the Cu powder and the Cu 2 complex, named [(μ 2 -OH)(μ 2 -Cl)(bpy) 2 Cu 2 Cl 2 ] (2), with one μ 2 -OH group in its structure. This work provides some structure information about the possible active sites during the NRR process and inspires us to develop new cluster as efficient electrocatalysts for advancing sustainable NH 3 production. Using the atomic precisely structurally characterized clusters as electrocatalysts can provide some possible structure information about the active intermediate during the electrocatalytic N 2 reduction reaction (NRR) process. A Cu4 cluster, named [(bpy) 4 Cu 4 (C 10 H 8 SO 3) 4 (OH) 4 ]•4H 2 O (1), has been synthesized and fully characterized by IR, SXRD, XPS, EPR, et al. Single crystal structural analysis reveals that the core structure of the cluster has a step-scheme conformation with two μ 2 -OH and two μ 3 -OH groups. Electro-catalysis studies of this cluster show that it can achieve a highest NH 3 yield of 2.18 μg h−1 mg−1 and a FE of 0.97 % at −0.6 V. The excellent NRR performance may be attributable to the additional μ 3 -OH groups, based on the contrastively study of the other electrocatalysts of the Cu powder and the Cu 2 complex, named [(μ 2 -OH)(μ 2 -Cl)(bpy) 2 Cu 2 Cl 2 ] (2), with one μ 2 -OH group in its structure. This work provides some structure information about the possible active sites during the NRR process and inspires us to develop new cluster as efficient electrocatalysts for advancing sustainable NH 3 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al-substituted α-type nickel hydroxides (α-Ni(OH) 2 ) containing different interlayer anions ( NO 3 − , SO 4 2 − , Cl − , CO 3 2 − , OH − ) are synthesized via a polyacrylamide (PAM) assisted two-step drying method. The effects of interlayer anions on the microstructure, morphology and electrochemical performance of Al-substituted α-Ni(OH) 2 are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and charge/discharge tests. The results demonstrate that the intercalated anions have a critical effect on the basal plane spacing, degree of crystallinity, and electrochemical properties of the end products. Especially, the intercalated anions have a marked impact on the activation process of the nickel electrodes. The Cl − intercalated α-Ni(OH) 2 sample exhibits better high-rate discharge ability and cycle stability than samples with other interlayer anions. This is attributed to the higher crystallinity, better exchange ability and smaller anion size of Cl − . The anion exchange ability and the size of anions also play an important role in the proton diffusion rate, which directly affects the electrochemical properties of α-Ni(OH) 2 . The relationships between the specific capacity and basal spacing are also discussed in details for the five samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a digital background calibration scheme for timing skew in time-interleaved analog-to-digital converters (TIADCs). The timing error is detected by using the first derivative of the channel ADCs and a least-mean-square (LMS) loop is exploited to compensate the timing skew. The proposed scheme is effective within the entire frequency range of 0-fs/2. Compared with traditional calibration schemes, the proposed approach is more feasible and consumes lesser power and smaller area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Visceral adiposity plays a key role in the development of insulin resistance (IR), so surrogate index that can indicate visceral obesity may have higher predictive value for IR. This study aimed to establish and validate a new predictive model including indicator of visceral obesity for IR. Methods. The study population consisted of two cohorts. The derivation cohort was a group of 667 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and the population undergoing a routine health checkup was the validation cohort. The predictive model was established by the logistic regression analysis. Its value for predicting IR was compared with other surrogate indices by the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results. The odds ratio (OR) of age, visceral fat area (VFA), triglyceride (TG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) for IR was 1.028 (95% CI, 1.008–1.048) (P < 0.01), 1.016 (95% CI, 1.009–1.023) (P < 0.001), 1.184 (95% CI, 1.005–1.396) (P < 0.05), 1.334 (95% CI, 1.225–1.451) (P < 0.001), and 1.021 (95% CI, 1.001–1.040) (P < 0.05). The formula of the predictive model was (0.0293 × age + 1.4892 × Ln VFA + 0.4966 × Ln TG + 2.784 × Ln FPG + 0.6906 × Ln ALT)/2. The area under the curve was the largest among all the previously reported predictors. Conclusions. This study established and validated a predicting model for IR and confirmed its predictive value in comparison with other surrogate indicators, which will offer a simple and effective tool to measure IR in future large population studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the partial comparatively optimum scheduling result caused by the singleness of priority selection in the existing task scheduling algorithms, starting from the global comparatively optimum, this paper proposed a static task scheduling algorithm named HGCOTS, which based on the stratification first and then branching determining priority. HGCOTS algorithm took large communication among tasks and redundancy tasks for scheduling efficiency of heterogeneous CMP into account, the combination of inserting and task duplication technique reduced the communication overhead among tasks greatly, besides, deleting redundancy tasks improved the task scheduling efficiency significantly. The simulation experiment based on randomly generated graphs shows that the new algorithm has a shorter scheduling length compared with other algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tai Chi movements share many similar biomechanical features with normal walking. The purpose of the study was to examine and to compare the temporospatial and kinematic features of two typical Tai Chi movements with forward walking. Experienced male Tai Chi practitioners (n= 15) between the ages of 65 to 75, performed ‘Repulse Monkey (RM)’, ‘Wave-hand in Cloud (WHIC)’, and forward walking. The results showed that stride width was larger for WHIC compared with walking; double-support time was longer for RM while both Tai Chi movements spent less time in single-support. The Tai Chi movements elicit larger vertical and mediolateral displacement of the centre of mass compared with walking. During RM and WHIC, the knees remained flexed while RM had notably larger abduction and adduction of the knee joint. The gentle and fluid Tai Chi movements have unique biomechanical features that may result in special training to postural control capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] An efficient and robust method for the estimation of the annual flood frequency distribution is developed. [•] It combines the advantages of the continuous simulation and event-based methods, i.e., accuracy and efficiency. [•] The joint probability nature of the rainfall-runoff process is taken into account and the AEP neutrality assumption is avoided. [•] It approach uses the causative events of the streamflows to derive the annual flood distribution. [•] It reduces computational demand compared with a long continuous simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A determination of biosimilarity is based on a thorough characterization and comparison of the quality profiles of a similar biotherapeutic product and its reference biotherapeutic product. Although the general principles on the role of the quality assessment in a biosimilar evaluation are widely understood and agreed, detailed discussions have not been published yet. We try to bridge this gap by presenting a case study exercise based on fictional but realistic data to highlight key principles of an evaluation to determine the degree of similarity at the quality level. The case study comprises three examples for biosimilar monoclonal antibody candidates. The first describes a highly similar quality profile whereas the second and third show greater differences to the reference biotherapeutic product. The aim is to discuss whether the presented examples can be qualified as similar and which additional studies may be helpful in enabling a final assessment. The case study exercise was performed at the WHO implementation workshop for the WHO guidelines on quality assessment of similar biotherapeutic products held in Xiamen, China, in May 2012. The goal was to illustrate the interpretation of the comparative results at the quality level, the role of the quality assessment in the entire biosimilarity exercise and its influence on the clinical evaluation. This paper reflects the outcome of the exercise and discussion from Xiamen. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study explored the trunk and lower limb muscle activity of 15 males during unilateral hockey bag carriage of 10%, 20%, and 30% of one’s body weight (BW) compared with without a load during walking. The electromyography (EMG) activities of the left and right erector spinae, rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and the medial gastrocnemius were studied. A 2-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine the differences between the load weight and muscle side. Results showed significant increase in peak EMG and iEMG in the carrying side vastus medialis, rectus abdominis, semitendinosus, and gastrocnemii (p < 0.05) at the 30% BW load. The noncarrying side showed a greater peak EMG in the semitendinosus and rectus femoris at the 30% BW load when compared with the carrying side (p < 0.05). It was concluded that unilateral hockey bag carriage is similar to both backpack and side-pack carriage styles. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

By combining solid/solid diffusion couples and the electron probe microanalysis technique, the interdiffusivities in fcc Ni-Cu-Si alloys at 1373 K were experimentally determined via the Matano-Kirkaldy method in the present work. Based on the reliable thermodynamic description of fcc phase in the Ni-Cu-Si system available in the literature as well as the ternary diffusion coefficients measured in this work, the atomic mobilities in fcc Ni-Cu-Si alloys were assessed by utilizing the DICTRA (DIffusion Controlled TRAnsformation) software package. The calculated interdiffusivities based on the assessed atomic mobilities agree well with all the experimental data. The reliability of the presently obtained atomic mobilities was further verified by comprehensive comparisons between different kinds of model-predicted diffusion properties and the measured data, including the concentration penetration profiles, interdiffusion flux profiles, and diffusion paths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp. is one of the most destructive diseases of cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne) worldwide. The correlation between NBS–LRR genes, the largest class of known resistance genes, and strawberry anthracnose resistance has been elusive. BLAST search in NCBI identified 94 FvNBSs in the diploid genome of strawberry Fragaria vesca, with 67 of the TIR–NBS–LRR type. At least 36 FvNBSs were expressed, with 25% being non-coding genes. Two F. vesca ecotypes, HLJ and YW, showed great variations in both morphological and physiological responses upon C. gloeosporioides infection. qRT-PCR revealed that 5 of the 12 leaf-expressed FvNBSs displaying opposite transcription responses to C. gloeosporioides infection in two ecotypes. These results showed that the transcriptional responses of several FvNBSs were involved in the ecotype-specific responses to C. gloeosporioides in F. vesca. These FvNBSs hold potential in characterizing molecular components and developing novel markers associated with anthracnose resistance in strawberry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, a new structural damage detection approach based on changes in the generalised displacement is presented. The generalised displacement is first introduced, its curvature and change are then used to detect structural damage location. Compared with the conventional approach using the original displacement, the generalised displacement method is more effective and is more robust to the noise factors in this new approach. Finally, a numerical example for two-span beam is used to illustrate the effectiveness of this proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]