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The electric resistance welding of thin-thickness duplex stainless steel (DSS) has an outstanding attraction in the plate-fin heat exchanger which is widely used in power machinery, diesel locomotive and other fields, but its structural integrity is threatened seriously by fatigue failure. Therefore, in this research, the formation of the heterogeneous microstructure of DSS electric resistance welding joints (ERWJ) was analyzed by the optical microscope (OM) and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) observations, and the uniaxial tensile and fatigue tests were subsequently executed to disclose their mechanical properties. The intrinsic relevancy between phase-related characteristics and failure behavior was extensively analyzed. The results show that the ferrite was dominating at whole ERWJ, particularly at the energized area, accounting for up to 72%. More than 45% of high-angle boundaries (HABS) and the highest kernel average misorientation (KAM, 2.46° for austenite and 1.52° for ferrite), which indicates greater plastic deformation and residual stress, were observed at the weld edge. In addition, the failure occurred as a tear along the weld edge regardless of the monotonic and cyclic loadings under the deterioration of residual stress and island-like austenite. The distribution of fatigue life with cyclic amplitude performed an obvious turning point of 19.5 MPa due to the different failure mechanisms, providing a permissible range of the stress amplitudes and reinforcement strategies for the plate-shell heat exchanger ERWJ in the engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to limited data on the pathogenesis of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and the suboptimal therapeutic effect, the development of new and effective treatment modalities was needed urgently. Low‐intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (Li‐ESWT) has been reported for the treatment of CP/CPPS. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Objective: To interrogated the efficacy and the mechanism of Li‐ESWT in the treatment of CP/CPPS. Materials and Methods: According to different treatments, RWPE‐1 cells (human prostate epithelial cells) were randomly divided into three groups: control group, LPS (lipopolysaccharide) group, or Li‐ESWT group (LPS‐induced RWPE‐1 managed by Li‐ESWT). Following the Li‐ESWT treatment, the levels of oxidative stress were assayed. We then established a rat model of experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) by injecting prostatic protein homogenate mixed with complete Freund's adjuvant. The Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group, EAP group, or Li‐ESWT group. Von Frey Filament was used to quantify pelvic hyperalgesia in the rats. Prostates tissues from each group were collected for immunohistochemistry, oxidation stress, and Western blot analysis. Results: Histological analysis showed reduced inflammation and expression of cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, COX‐2, SP) in prostate tissues from the Li‐ESWT group compared with those from the EAP group (all p < 0.05). Similarly, there was reduced pelvic pain and allergic symptoms in the Li‐ESWT group compared with the EAP group (all p < 0.05). Besides, Li‐ESWT treatment could decrease oxidative stress in the prostate and in RWPE‐1 cells, respectively (both p < 0.05). Moreover, the Li‐ESWT upregulated the expression of CAT through the inhibition of phosphorylation of AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway. Discussion and Conclusions: Li‐ESWT may reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and pain in rats with autoimmunity‐induced prostatitis via the PI3 K/AKT/FOXO1 pathway. It implies that Li‐ESWT can present a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of CP/CPPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The correlation among heterogeneous microstructure, cyclic hardening/softening and fatigue failure behavior was analyzed extensively. • The fracture location was changed with the fatigue amplitude due to the amplitude-dependent and heterogeneous cyclic hardening/softening of BM and WM. • A modified cyclic constitutive model was proposed to precisely predict the heterogeneous cyclic mechanical response and failure location for both stress-controlled and strain-controlled conditions. This work performed experimental and modeling investigations on the fatigue failure mechanism of duplex stainless steel welded joints, and the correlation among heterogeneous microstructure, cyclic hardening/softening and fatigue failure behavior was analyzed extensively. A series of experiments including the characterization of microstructure by the electron back-scattered diffraction observation and fatigue mechanical tests assisted by digital image correlation technique were performed. The results show that at the lower stress amplitudes (approximately 520 MPa), the fatigue failure occurred in the weld metal, while it shifted to the base metal at higher amplitudes. Due to the grain refinement, the strain amplitude of weld metal was lower than that of base metal, particularly at the higher amplitudes, leading to the final failure at the base metal. However, at the lower amplitudes, due to the effect of Kurdjumov-Sachs orientation relationship at the weld metal, its cyclic softening behavior was much drastic than that of base metal, resulting in the overshoot of strain amplitude during fatigue process and finial rupture at the weld metal. A cyclic constitutive model was developed by considering the amplitude-dependent and heterogeneous cyclic hardening/softening, to accurately predict the cyclic mechanical response and fatigue failure location for both stress-controlled and strain-controlled conditions. This work can be used as guidance of structure integrity assessment and life prediction for the engineering components of duplex stainless steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the demographic characteristics of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) infected through commercial heterosexual contact (CHC) or nonmarital noncommercial heterosexual contact (NMNCHC) is important for HIV/AIDS prevention and control.Methods: Cases reported through the Chinese HIV/AIDS Case Reporting System (CRS) from 2015 to 2018 were analyzed. A descriptive and preliminary inferential analysis were performed for those demographic characteristics deemed of interest.Results: Overall, 523,121 identified PLWHA between 2015 and 2018 in the CRS were analyzed. The constituent ratio of heterosexual transmission increased from 66.25% in 2015 to 71.48% in 2018. The proportion of CHC heterosexual transmission decreased from 40.18% in 2015 to 37.99% in 2018, while that of NMNCHC increased from 46.33% in 2015 to 49.02% in 2018. PLWHA infected through NMNCHC were significantly younger than those who were infected through CHC (Student's t test, P < 0.0001), with an average age gap ranging from 5.63 (2015) to 7.46 (2018) years, and the average age of both groups increased annually. The frequency of newly identified PLWHA who were infected through CHC had a remarkable increase among the ages of 65 and above. Gender distribution was significantly different between CHC and NMNCHC (χ2 = 8909.00(2015), 9941.90(2016), 11,004.00 (2017), 12,836.00(2018), all P < 0.0001), and the ratio of men to women in the NMCHC group was 1.50:1 (2015), 1.51:1 (2016), 1.54:1 (2017), and 1.52:1 (2018), while in the commercial heterosexual contact (CHC) group, these ratios were 11.45:1 (2015), 12.08:1 (2016), 12.53:1 (2017), and 13.28:1 (2018). Marital status was significantly different between CHC and NMNCHC (χ2 = 94.67 (2015), 109.88(2016), 58.18(2017), 152.38(2018), all P < 0.0001). As the educational level improved, the proportion of NMNCHC also increased (Cochran - Armitage test, P < 0.0001).Conclusions: We found that heterosexual transmission was the primary mode of HIV transmission in China from 2015 to 2018. PLWHA infected through CHC and NMNCHC had different characteristics in age, gender, marital status, and educational level. The frequency of PLWHA infected through CHC increased substantially in the age group of 65 and above. This study provides useful baseline data for future studies on the heterosexual transmission of HIV in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A multiscale model was proposed to accurately predict the heterogeneous and multiscale elasto-plastic properties of 2205 DSS welded joints. • The contribution of Peierls–Nabarro stress, solid solution strengthening, grain/phase boundary, and dislocations density on the macro-mechanical properties (YS and UTS) was quantified. • The evolution of heterogeneous micro-mechanical responses with two constitutive phases with the elevation of loads was predicted accurately. • The banded GBAs and its adjacent ferrite were more prone to plastic-deformed. This work aims to reveal the inherent dependency between the heterogeneous microstructure induced by the metallurgical transformation during welding of 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS) and its macroscopic and microscopic elasto-plastic properties by experiments and models. A multiscale model was developed by combining a macro-constitutive model incorporating the physically-based yield strength and a crystal plasticity model considering both the micro-mechanical properties of two phases and their realistic morphology. The results show that the heterogeneous macro-mechanical properties of base metal (BM), heat affected zone (HAZ), and weld material (WM), as well as their micro-mechanical responses related to phase morphology, ratio, and grain size, can be accurately predicted. The contribution of Peierls–Nabarro stress, solid solution strengthening, grain/phase boundary, and dislocations density on macro-yield and tensile strengths was quantified, and WM was proven to have greater yield and tensile strengths due to the greater contribution of grain refinement and solid solution strengthening. In addition, a transition mechanism of the deformation-bearing phase from austenite to ferrite with the increase of load was proved, and the banded grain boundary austenite (GBA) and its adjacent ferritic grains were prone to plastic-deformation. This work can be used as guidance of structure integrity assessment and welding process optimization for the engineering components of DSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few randomized studies have compared intermittent hormone therapy (IHT) with continuous hormone therapy (CHT) for the treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer (PCa). Here, we report the results of a meta-analysis of a randomized controlled trial, evaluating the effectiveness of IHT versus CHT for patients with locally advanced PCa. Types of intervention were IHT versus CHT. The primary endpoint of this study is overall mortality and the secondary endpoints are any progression of disease, quality of life (QOL) and adverse effects between two groups. Six randomized controlled trials totaling 2996 patients were included. Results are as follows: after hormone therapy, patients undergoing IHT demonstrated no significant difference from those undergoing CHT in terms of the overall mortality (OR = 1.0, 95% CI [0.86, 1.17]) and disease progression (OR = 1.16, 95% CI [0.86, 1.57]). Men treated with IHT also reported better QOL, fewer adverse effects and considerable economic benefit for the individual and the community. With no difference in overall mortality and incidence of progression, current clinical studies confirm that both therapeutic methods were safe and effective. However, our study also takes into account QOL. When these secondary measures are considered, IHT may be a better option over CHT as patients report a more affordable treatment with improved QOL and fewer adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The plate-fin heat exchanger (PFHE) is the core equipment used to achieve the high efficiency of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), however, the issues of high-performance brazed joints in the manufacturing of the PFHE have been a challenge due to the poor mechanical properties. This study proposes a brazing manufacturing technology of isothermal solidification with the optimized post bonding heat treatment strategy, to synergistically improve the strength-ductility property and homogenize microstructure of brazed joints, aiming at guaranteeing the high energy efficiency of SOFC. The results show that brazing at 1065 °C for 25 min achieves the complete isothermal solidification and an intermetallic-free joint centerline with numerous borides generating in the diffusion-affected zone. Solution treatment then dissolves large quantities of acicular and blocky borides. The uniformity of grain size and kernel average misorientation distribution is also improved due to recrystallization, which becomes more pronounced after solution aging treatment. In addition, solution aging treatment results in an improvement in the ultimate tensile strength of the brazed joint, which is more prominent than that after solution treatment. However, the increase in elongation after solution aging treatment is smaller than after solution treatment, while still much higher than the as-brazed joint due to the dissolution of boride precipitates and growth of twin boundaries. The results demonstrate that the proposed brazing manufacturing technology not only homogenizes microstructure, but also significantly improves strength and ductility, further promoting the long-life operation of SOFC. • A proper brazing technology to fabricate plate-fin heat exchanger of SOFC is proposed. • An appropriate heat treatment strategy to enhance strength and ductility is proposed. • Solution aging gets superior strength but inferior ductility to solution treatment. • Borides dissolution, solid solution and precipitation strengthening enhance strength. • More uniform microstructure, increased recrystallization and twins raise ductility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of tamsulosin as a medical expulsive therapy of ureteral stones. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and ISI-Science Citation Index up to December 2011. All randomized controlled trials were identified in which patients were randomized to receive either tamsulosin or standard therapy with/without placebo for ureteral stones. Outcome measures assessed were overall stone expulsion rate (primary) and expulsion time, and the number of pain episodes (secondary). Three authors independently assessed study quality and extracted data. All data were analyzed using RevMan 5.0. Results: Twenty-nine trials with a total of 2,763 patients met the inclusion criteria. The pooled analysis showed a 19% improvement in stone clearance with tamsulosin. According to the doses of tamsulosin, the pooling effects of tamsulosin were analyzed, with a higher expulsion rate obtained than in controls. Compared with calcium channel blockers, there was a higher stone expulsion rate in tamsulosin. In addition, a shorter expulsion time, fewer colic episodes and adverse effects were observed. Conclusions: Tamsulosin is a safe and effective medical expulsive therapy choice for ureteral stones. It should be recommended for most patients with distal ureteral stones before stones are 10 mm in size. In future, high-quality multicenter, randomized and placebo-controlled trials are needed to evaluate the outcome. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of sildenafil versus continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods. This is a meta-analysis of a randomized controlled trial. The main outcome measures for effectiveness were the percentage of successful intercourse attempts, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) domain scores (erectile function, EF) and the satisfaction levels of the patients and their partners with the treatment for ED. Results. Two randomized controlled trials totaling 70 patients were included. Meta-analysis results are as follows: after 12 weeks of treatment, patients under sildenafil demonstrated a significant advantage over under CPAP in terms of the percentage of successful intercourse attempts [OR = 3.24, 95% CI (2.37–4.43)], EF scores [WMD = 3.57, 95%CI (1.68–5.45)], and the satisfaction levels of the patients and their partners with the treatment for ED [OR = 3.56, 95% CI (1.27–9.98)]. Conclusion. Current clinical studies might confirm that both therapeutic methods were safe and effective, but sildenafil was superior to CPAP in the treatment of ED in men with OSA. We conclude that new therapeutic agents or a combination of the two methods should be studied further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness and safety of tamsulosin and terazosin for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was evaluated by literature review. PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Chinese biomedicine literature database (CBM), reference lists of reports, and reviews were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), or quasi-RCTs of tamsulosin versus terazosin in BPH. Twelve studies involving 2,816 men were included. Outcomes included international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), average urinary flow rate (Qave), residual volume, prostate volume, and adverse effect (dizziness, severe hypotension, dry mouth). Relative risk was calculated for dichotomous data. Sensitivity analyses assessed the influence of baseline symptom severity. We found that tamsulosin is better than terazosin when assessed by IPSS (weighted mean difference (WMD)=-1.24 95% CI [-1.98, -0.51], there was no significant difference between the two groups in QOL (WMD=0.04 95% CI [-0.16, 0.24]), Qmax (WMD=-0.38 95% CI [-1.18, 0.41]), Qave (WMD=-0.39 95% CI [-0.84, 0.06]), residual volume (WMD=-4.32 95% CI [-10.96, 2.33]), and prostate volume (WMD=-0.28 95% CI [-3.37, 2.81]). Fewer patients receiving tamsulosin experienced dizziness (relative risk (RR)=0.38 95% CI [0.30, 0.48]), severe hypotension (RR=0.16 95% CI [0.04, 0.68]), and dry mouth (RR=0.14 95% CI [0.03, 0.77]), compared with patients receiving terazosin. Many of the high quality RCTs showed beneficial effects of tamsulosin in terms of improving IPSS. However, whether tamsulosin proves more efficacious than terazosin in long term therapy requires confirmation by additional large sample, high quality trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When constructing an investment portfolio, it is important to maximize returns while minimizing risks. This portfolio optimization can be considered as a multi-objective optimization problem that is solved by means of multi-objective evolutionary algorithms. The use of multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) provides an effective approach for dealing with the complex data involved in multi-objective optimization problems. However, current MOEAs often rely on a single strategy to obtain optimal solutions, leading to premature convergence and an insufficient population diversity. In this paper, a new MOEA called the Synergistic MOEA with Diffusion Population Generation (DPG-SMOEA) is proposed to address these limitations by integrating MOEAs with diffusion models. To train the diffusion model, a mixed memory pool strategy is optimized, which collects improved solutions from the MOEA/D-AEE, an optimized MOEA, as training samples. The trained model is then used to generate offspring. Considering the cold-start mechanism of the diffusion model, particularly during the training phase where it is not suitable for generating initial offspring, this paper adjusts and optimizes the collaborative strategy to enhance the synergy between the diffusion model and MOEA/D-AEE. Experimental validation of the DPG-SMOEA demonstrates the advantages of using diffusion models in low-dimensional and relatively continuous data analysis. The results show that the DPG-SMOEA performs well on the low-dimensional Hang Seng Index test dataset, while achieving average performance on other high-dimensional datasets, consistent with theoretical predictions. Overall, the DPG-SMOEA achieves better results compared to MOEA/D-AEE and other multi-objective optimization algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the demographic characteristics of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) infected through commercial heterosexual contact (CHC) or nonmarital noncommercial heterosexual contact (NMNCHC) is important for HIV/AIDS prevention and control. Methods: Cases reported through the Chinese HIV/AIDS Case Reporting System (CRS) from 2015 to 2018 were analyzed. A descriptive and preliminary inferential analysis were performed for those demographic characteristics deemed of interest. Results: Overall, 523,121 identified PLWHA between 2015 and 2018 in the CRS were analyzed. The constituent ratio of heterosexual transmission increased from 66.25% in 2015 to 71.48% in 2018. The proportion of CHC heterosexual transmission decreased from 40.18% in 2015 to 37.99% in 2018, while that of NMNCHC increased from 46.33% in 2015 to 49.02% in 2018. PLWHA infected through NMNCHC were significantly younger than those who were infected through CHC (Student's t test, P < 0.0001), with an average age gap ranging from 5.63 (2015) to 7.46 (2018) years, and the average age of both groups increased annually. The frequency of newly identified PLWHA who were infected through CHC had a remarkable increase among the ages of 65 and above. Gender distribution was significantly different between CHC and NMNCHC (χ2 = 8909.00(2015), 9941.90(2016), 11,004.00 (2017), 12,836.00(2018), all P < 0.0001), and the ratio of men to women in the NMCHC group was 1.50:1 (2015), 1.51:1 (2016), 1.54:1 (2017), and 1.52:1 (2018), while in the commercial heterosexual contact (CHC) group, these ratios were 11.45:1 (2015), 12.08:1 (2016), 12.53:1 (2017), and 13.28:1 (2018). Marital status was significantly different between CHC and NMNCHC (χ2 = 94.67 (2015), 109.88(2016), 58.18(2017), 152.38(2018), all P < 0.0001). As the educational level improved, the proportion of NMNCHC also increased (Cochran - Armitage test, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: We found that heterosexual transmission was the primary mode of HIV transmission in China from 2015 to 2018. PLWHA infected through CHC and NMNCHC had different characteristics in age, gender, marital status, and educational level. The frequency of PLWHA infected through CHC increased substantially in the age group of 65 and above. This study provides useful baseline data for future studies on the heterosexual transmission of HIV in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To present the widely unknown perioperative outcomes and continence status of bladder cancer patients following robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with Mainz pouch II urinary diversion (UD). Materials and methods: From November 2020 to December 2023, 37 bladder cancer patients who underwent RARC with Mainz pouch II UD were retrospectively assessed (ChiCTR2300070279). The results, which included patient demographics, perioperative data, continence, and complications (early ≤ 30 days and late ≤ 30 days) were reported using the RC-pentafecta criteria. RC-pentafecta criteria included ≥ 16 lymph nodes removed, negative soft tissue surgical margins, absence of major (Grade III–IV) complication at 90 days, absence of clinical recurrence at ≤ 12 months, and absence of long-term UD-related sequelae. A numeric rating scale assessed patient satisfaction with urinary continence 30 days after surgery. The validated Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) questionnaire was used to evaluate bowel function. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to evaluate overall survival (OS). Results: Of the 37 patients evaluated over a median (range) follow-up period of 23.0 (12.0-36.5) months. The median (range) age was 65 (40–81) years. The median (range) time to urinary continence after surgery was 2.3 (1.5-6) months. Of the 37 patients, 31 (83.8%) were continent both during the day and at night, 34 (91.9%) were continent during the day, 32 (86.5%) were continent at night, 35 (94.6%) were satisfied with their urinary continence status, and 21 (56.8%) were very satisfied. The mean (range) voiding frequency was 6 (4–10) during the day and 3 (2-5.5) at night. The mean (range) PAC-SYM total score was 9.50 (4.00–15.00). In 12 (32.4%) of the patients, RC-pentafecta was achieved, and achieving RC-pentafecta was linked to better satisfaction scores (7.3 vs. 5.5, p = 0.034). There was no significant difference between RC-pentafecta and No RC-pentafecta groups in terms of OS (25.6 vs. 21.5 months, p = 0.16). 7 (19.4%) patients experienced late complications. Conclusions: Mainz pouch II UD following RARC in bladder cancer patients results in a satisfactory continence rate. Achieving RC-pentafecta was correlated with better satisfaction scores. The intracorporeal approach to Mainz pouch II UD is beneficial for female patients due to its reduced invasiveness. Trial registration: ChiCTR2300070279; Registration: 07/04/2023, Last updated version: 01/06/2023. Retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to assess the methodological quality of the systematic reviews/meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) using A Measurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews (AMSTAR2) and to explore the potential influencing factors. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant studies. AMSTAR2 was used for evaluating the methodological quality of eligible SRs/MAs. Differences between methodological characteristics of SRs/MAs were compared using chi-square tests. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess reviewer agreement in the pre-experiment. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify potential factors affecting methodological quality. Results: A total of 45 SRs/MAs were included. After AMSTAR2 evaluation, only two (4.4%) of 45 SRs/MAs were moderate, three (6.7%) were rated as low quality, and the remainder 40 (88.9%) were rated as critically low quality. Among the 16 items of AMSTAR2, item 3 and item 10 had the poorest adherence. Item 4 received the most significant number of "Partial Yes" responses. Univariable analysis indicated that there were significant differences in methodological quality in SRs between different continents (P = 0.027) as well as between preregistered SRs and those that were not (P = 0.004). However, in multivariate analysis, there was no significant association between methodological quality and the following research characteristics: publication year, continent, whether reporting followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA), preregistration, funding support, randomized controlled trials (RCT) enrollment, whether SR was published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), and whether with meta-analysis. Additionally, subgroup analysis based on interventional SRs/MAs showed that continent was independently associated with the methodological quality of SRs/MAs of CP/CPPS via univariable and multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that the methodological quality of SRs/MAs of CP/CPPS was generally poor. SRs/MAs of CP/CPPS should adopt the AMSTAR2 to enhance their methodological quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MHD patients were divided into two groups by the median level: the high TMAO group (7206 ng/mL) with 85% in PEW and the low TMAO group (4080.9 ng/mL) with only 34% in PEW. Dear Sir, We have read with great interest the paper entitled 'Correlation between serum trimethylamine I N i -oxide concentration and protein energy wasting in patients on maintenance hemodialysis' by Hu et al. [[1]]. According to the former study, it showed that serum TMAO levels in HD patients reflect the net effect of TMAO production and clearance. [Extracted from the article]

Dear Editor, The paper, which entitled 'Red blood cell distribution width at admission outcome in critically ill patients with kidney failure: a retrospective cohort study based on the MIMIC-IV database' by Hua et al. [[1]], is of great interest to us. The retrospective study included 674 kidney failure patients (643 hemodialysis and 31 peritoneal dialysis patients), who were divided into three groups based on tertiles of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) {the low group: <15.4% ( I n i = 223); the middle group: >=15.5%, <17.1% (221); the high group: >=1.72%( I n i = 230)}. Secondly, Soohoo et al. [[4]]. conducted a large cohort study of 14,323 PD patients with a mean RDW of 15.3 ± 1.6% to show the higher baseline and time-varying RDW (>=15.0%) were associated with a greater risk of mortality, including all-cause and CV, and time to first hospitalization. [Extracted from the article]

A national cohort study conducted by Casey Crump and colleagues examined the risks of depression, anxiety, and suicide in partners of men with prostate cancer. The study found that partners of men with high-risk prostate cancer had increased risks of psychosocial distress that persisted for 10 or more years. The study emphasized the importance of psychosocial support for both prostate cancer patients and their partners. However, the study did not consider certain factors such as treatment strategy and prior diagnosis of major depression or anxiety disorder, which may have influenced the results. The authors suggest that including these factors and providing the results of absolute effects would enhance the clinical applicability of the study. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the available literature regarding the postoperative effects of anti-reflux anastomosis and direct anastomosis in orthotopic ileal neobladder (ONB). Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library in October 2021. We included 11 studies of patients with bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy and ONB as urinary diversion. Outcomes evaluated in this review were ureteroenteric anastomotic stricture (UEAS), vesicoureteral reflux, renal function (RFn) impairment, and pyelonephritis. All data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.4.4 and subgroup analyses were applied. Results: A total of 11 studies were eligible for meta-analysis. The synthetic data suggested that anti-reflux anastomosis and direct anastomosis were comparable in terms of RFn impairment (odds ratio (OR) = 1.69; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18–15.6; p = 0.65, I2 = 69%) and pyelonephritis (OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 0.65–1.99; p = 0.66, I2 = 1%) without significant difference in each group statistically. The pooled study data showed a significantly higher incidence of UEAS (OR = 2.84; 95% CI: 1.75–4.61, p < 0.0001, I2 = 50%) and a lower incidence of vesicoureteral reflux (OR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.10–0.59; p = 0.002, I2 = 75%) in anti-reflux anastomosis compared to direct anastomosis. In subgroup analysis, anti-reflux anastomosis was more likely to result in UEAS than direct anastomosis, especially when ureteral stent was removed within 14 days. Conclusion: Although meta-analysis showed that overall incidence of vesicoureteral reflux was higher with direct anastomosis than anti-reflux anastomosis, the rate of vesicoureteral reflux was not directly related to impairment of RFn. The anti-reflux mechanism of ONB was positively associated with a higher incidence of significant UEAS compared to the direct approach, which can lead to kidney damage and an increased risk of secondary surgical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cruciform welded joint is a weak position of filter press to cause fatigue failure under cyclic conditions. In this study, cavitation jet peening (CJP) treatment is proposed to improve the fatigue life of SAF2205 cruciform welded joints. The effects of different CJP treatment positions on the residual stress, microstructure, and microhardness were studied. The results show that different CJP treatment positions have different on residual stresses and fatigue life. The order of the residual stress in fracture position from large to small is the fully treated specimen, untreated specimen, one‐sided treated specimen, and diagonal treated specimen, which is exactly opposite to the order of fatigue life from large to small. After the diagonal CJP treatment, the fatigue life is increased by up to 242.19%, and the residual stress at the weld toe is reduced by more than 80%. A strengthening layer with thicknesses of about 400 μm is formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dear Sir, I have read with great interest the paper entitled 'Association of trimethylamine I N i -Oxide with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients' by Zhang et al. [[1]]. TMAO was measured by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry using TMAO-D9 as the internal standard. Plasma TMAO levels in HD patients reflect the net effect of TMAO production and clearance. [Extracted from the article]

Dear Sir, We have read with great interest the paper entitled 'Association of sclerostin with cardiovascular events and mortality in dialysis patients' by Zou et al. [[1]]. However, in HD patients, the Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that only CVE-free survival rates notably declined in the high serum sclerostin group compared to the low serum sclerostin group( I p i = 0.029). [Extracted from the article]

Comment on "Tadalafil monotherapy in management of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial" Is mild erectile dysfunction associated with severe psychological symptoms in Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome? Dear Editor, We read and appreciated the article from Tawfik's team which suggested extra benefits of tadalafil monotherapy over placebo for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) with concomitant erectile dysfunction (ED) [[1]]. [Extracted from the article]

• >Synthetical effect of material inhomogeneity and welding defect on fatigue behavior. • >New structure strain method including heterogeneous plasticity and stress singularity. • >Evolution of fatigue mode with geometric configurations and cyclic amplitudes. • >A damage tolerance-based fatigue design concept to guide manufacture of welded joints. This paper performed experimental and analytical investigations on the synthetical effect of material inhomogeneity and welding defects on the fatigue behavior of 2205 duplex stainless steel cruciform welded joints. A series of experiments were performed, including microstructure characterization by the electron back-scattered diffraction, fatigue mechanical tests assisted by digital image correlation technique and fracture morphology observations by scanning electron microscope. Results show that fatigue life and failure location of cruciform welded joints depended heavily on their geometric configurations for lower cyclic amplitudes. However, with the elevation of loading, material inhomogeneity played a greater roles, leading to the change of fatigue failure mode with both geometric configuration and cyclic stress amplitude. To quantize the effects of welding defects and material inhomogeneity, a modified structure strain method was proposed by considering the heterogeneous plastic properties, to accurately predict both fatigue lifetime and failure location of cruciform welded joints at both low and high cycles fatigue. Lastly, a damage tolerance-based fatigue design method was discussed to guide the highly-reliable manufacture and damage detection of duplex stainless steel cruciform welded joints in the engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Austenite and duplex stainless steels are widely used in engineering, and the latter exhibits a more excellent combination of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance due to the coexistence of austenite and ferrite and higher nitrogen. However, fatigue failure still threatens their structural integrity. A comprehensive comparison of their cyclic deformation behavior is a major foundation to understand the role of duplex-phase microstructure and nitrogen in the safety assessment of engineering components. Thus, in this paper, the cyclic deformation behavior of fully-austenitic stainless steel 316L and duplex stainless steel 2205 was studied by a series of low cycle fatigue tests with various strain amplitudes, loading rates and tensile holding. A theoretical mechanism diagram of the interaction between nitrogen and dislocation movements during cyclic loads was proposed. Results show that the cyclic stress response of 2205 was the primary cyclic hardening, followed by a long-term cyclic softening regardless of strain amplitudes and rates, while an additional secondary hardening was observed for 316L at greater strain amplitudes. Cyclic softening of 2205 was restrained under slower strain rates or tensile holding due to the interaction between nitrogen and dislocations. The cyclic plasticity of 2205 started within the austenite, and gradually translated into the ferrite with the elevation of the cyclic amplitude, which lead to a decreased hardening ratio with the increase in amplitude and a shorter fatigue life for a given smaller plastic strain amplitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The safety of the elderly has received increasing attention. • The relationship between the characteristics and walking speed of the elderly are analyzed through experiments. • A speed model for elderly people affected by visual acuity in smoke is proposed. • Visual acuity was considered in the evacuation simulation. • The advantages and disadvantages of this model are discussed. To clarify the effect of visual acuity on walking speed of the elderly in the smoke-filled environment of the building, their walking speed was measured. 37 older people were selected to participate in the experiments, and their characteristics were counted, including visual acuity, height, age, and gender before the experiments. Walking speed in the smoke-free environment was also measured. The smoke density was divided into five stages from thin to thick, and each elderly person was measured three times at the same stages. The results showed that the walking speed of the elderly was divided into three stages according to the smoke density. The walking speed in the thin smoke environment is basically the same as that in the smoke-free environment. The walking speed reduces by 0.31 m/s as the extinction coefficient increases by 1 m−1 in intermediate smoke density. And in the thick smoke, walking speed reduced to 0.27 m/s. Visual acuity dominates walking speed in the smoke-filled environment, but other factors play a leading role in walking speed in the smoke-free environment. Besides, a calculation model is proposed which can predict the walking speed of the elderly by visual acuity and smoke density. This model can help to predict walking speed and evacuation process of the elderly in fire and provide a reliable basis for the performance-based design of buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the microstructure characteristics and formation mechanism of DSS (duplex stainless steel) multi-pass weld joints were firstly investigated in terms of the OM (optical microscope) and EBSD (electron back-scattered diffraction) observation, and a series mechanical tests, including the monotonic tensile tests assisted by the DIC (digital image correlation) observation and stress-controlled fatigue tests, were subsequently performed to clarify the intrinsic correlation between mechanical behavior and microstructure. The fatigue fracture morphologies and cracks propagation behavior were analyzed by the OM and SEM (scanning electron microscope) observation. The results show that the significant ferritiszation and determined precipitations were found at the HAZ (heat-affected zone), whereas the austenite was dominating at weld filler zone due to the more formation of the IGA (intragranular austenite). A nearly balance phase ratio was obtained at weld back and cap zones, but the strip GBA (grain boundary austenites) was connected into piece along thickness direction. The monotonic tensile strength of weld joints was higher than that of the based materials due to the refined-grains structures, and the final rupture occurred at the BM (based material) zone. However, the fatigue lifetimes of weld joints were much shorter than that of based materials for the same cyclic amplitude. The fatigue cracks preferred to nucleate at weld back or cap passes although where phase ratio was approximately balance. The austenitic grains which were connected into pieces accelerated the initiation of fatigue cracks. Apart from maintaining phases balance and avoiding detrimental precipitation, the alternative distribution of austenite and ferrite should also be obtained in the engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the genetic causes of male infertility characterized by teratozoospermia.Design: Genetic studies.Setting: Medical university.Patient(s): Two infertile brothers with teratozoospermia in a consanguineous Chinese family, another 124 sporadic infertile male patients presenting with teratozoospermia, and 200 male controls with normal fertility.Invention(s): None.Main Outcome Measure(s): Whole exome sequencing and genotype analysis to identify the potential pathogenic mutation, Sanger sequencing to validate the mutation in family members, in silico structural modeling to predict the functional consequences of mutation, and targeted next-generation sequencing to validate the mutation in sporadic cases.Result(s): A novel homozygous nonsynonymous mutation (C1991T, p.G664D) in FBXO43 (F-box only protein 43) was observed in two brothers from a consanguineous Chinese family. The mutation was segregated with the disease phenotype and was predicted to be a disease causing protein by SIFT, PolyPhen-2, and Mutation Taster. An in silico mutant FBXO43 model predicts that the mutation p.G664D causes shortening of two β-sheets, an additional α-helix, and change in loops, which may result in loss of function of the protein. The homozygous mutation of FBXO43 was absent in the 1000 Genomes Project (1000 G) and the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) databases. Subsequent mutation screening of FBXO43 in a cohort of 124 cases identified four additional cases with heterozygous FBXO43 mutations. No mutations were found in FBXO43 in 200 fertile controls.Conclusion(s): The mutation in FBXO43 is a causative factor of male infertility and teratozoospermia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]