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A new steel special-shaped lattice column (SSLC) was proposed, which can be used in prefabricated steel structure residence. The finite element models of four SSLC with different cross-section (L-shaped, T1-shaped, T2-shaped and X-shaped) were established under cyclic loading by using ABAQUS, in which the strength, lateral resist capacity and hysteretic behavior were analyzed. The results indicate that SSLC has adequate strength, stiffness and safety redundancy. Among the four SSLC, the SSLC with X-shaped has the best structural performance and seismic behavior.

Shengji solution is made according to the classic prescription - Shengji prescription. Shengji solution is a external prescription of traditional Chinese medicine with the functions of nourishing blood, relieving pain, producing muscle and shrinking the wound. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of Shengji solution on dorsal full-thickness skin defects in rats. We also detected the activation of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1)/SMAD3/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathways in the wound-healing process. The results showed that the wound was cleaned with normal saline followed by bandaging with cotton gauze according to the groups, respectively: (a) control group; (b) Kangfuxin group, the wound was moistened with Kangfuxin solution; (c) Shengji solution group, the wounds were moistened with Shengji solution; (d) Shengji solution+SB431542 inhibitor group, the wound was moistened with Shengji solution, and then SB431542 inhibitor (10 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally for 5 days. On the 14th day after operation, the wound-healing rate of Shengji solution group was more than 95% and also greater than that in the control group and Shengji solution+SB431542 inhibitor group. Besides, Shengji solution could inhibit the inflammation and capillary production by enhancing the epithelial regeneration, dermal repair and angiogenesis. Moreover, Shengji solution could also increase CD34 content, the expressions of TGF-β1, VEGF proteins and the phosphorylation of SMAD3 in wound granulation tissue. In conclusion, Shengji solution can accelerate the dermal cutaneous wound healing in rats, stimulate angiogenesis and collagen synthesis by activating TGF-β1/SMAD3/VEGF pathway.

Objective: To investigate the effect of sequential therapy for kidney-tonifying via traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on improving the fecundity and quality of life (QOL) of women with decreased ovarian reserve (DOR)., Methods: A prospective and randomized controlled study was conducted, in which 80 infertile patients with DOR were selected in our hospital and randomly divided into the test group (n=40) and the control group (n=40). The control group was given sequential therapy of artificial menstrual cycle via administration of estrogen and progesterone, and the test group received sequential therapy for kidney-tonifying via TCM. Then, Kupperman indices, hormone levels, ovarian reserve functions, menopause specific quality of life questionnaire (MENQOL) scores, as well as the pregnancy rates within one year before and after treatment were compared between the two groups., Results: Compared with the control group, the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and resistance index (RI) of ovarian stroma were significantly decreased in the test group (all P<0.001), while the levels of estradiol (E2), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), mid-luteal phase E2, progesterone, antral follicular count (AFC), and ovarian diameter (OVD) of patients were notably increased in the test group (all P<0.001). After treatment, the Kupperman indices and MENQOL scores of the test group were considerably lower than those of the control group (P<0.001). No adverse effects were observed in the test group, whereas the incidence of adverse effects in the control group was 12.50%, although without significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The pregnancy rate within one year in the test group was significantly higher than that of the control group (47.50% vs. 25.00%) (P<0.05)., Conclusion: Sequential therapy for kidney-tonifying via TCM could effectively improve the clinical symptoms, hormone levels, and ovarian function, increase ovulation quality and pregnancy rate, and improve the QOL of DOR patients., Competing Interests: None., (AJTR Copyright © 2021.)

Standard therapy strategies for cervical cancer (CC) typically are centered on cisplatin (DDP)-based chemotherapy, while the effects of PSAT1 on cisplatin resistance in CC have not been elucidated. Cisplatin-resistant CC cell line of SiHa (SiHa-R) was established and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting PSAT1 was generated to evaluate the effect of PSAT1 knockdown on CC progression. Cell viability and apoptosis were examined by using CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays. The protein levels of p-Akt, t-Akt, PCNA, cleaved caspase-3, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and multidrug resistance related protein (MRP)-1 were assessed by western blotting. Cisplatin-resistant CC cells (SiHa-R) exhibited higher expression level of PSAT1 rather than parental SiHa cells. PSAT1 knockdown lowered the IC 50 of cisplatin, inhibited the colony formation numbers, and facilitated the apoptosis ability in SiHa-R cells. PSAT1 knockdown also suppressed the protein levels of phospho-Akt, proteins involved in proliferation (PCNA) and drug resistance (P-gp and MRP-1), increased apoptosis related protein (cleaved caspase-3), while the PI3K/Akt agonist, 740 Y-P, markedly reversed these above effects. Inhibition of PSAT1 reduced cisplatin resistance in SiHa-R cells through suppressing proliferation and inducing apoptosis by blocking PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. PSAT1 may be a potential therapeutic target to reverse chemoresistance in cisplatin-resistant CC., (© 2020 by the Association of Clinical Scientists, Inc.)