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Abstract: Sb2O3/TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transfer infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic activities of Sb2O3/TiO2 nanoparticles were evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange. The results show that the Sb2O3 doping enhanced the photocatalytic activity of TiO2, and the 0.5%Sb2O3/TiO2 nanoparticles show the best photocatalytic activity. The separation of photoinduced electron–hole pairs on the Sb2O3/TiO2 photocatalyst surface is an important step in the photocatalytic reaction because of the Sb2O3 coupling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: Damage to the uterosacral ligaments is an important contributor to uterine and vaginal prolapse. The aim of this study is to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the uterosacral ligaments of women with and without pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and analyze their relationships to cellular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of POP., Experimental Design: Uterosacral ligament connective tissue from four patients with POP and four control women undergo iTRAQ analysis followed by ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) of DEPs. DEPs are validated using Western blot analysis., Results: A total of 1789 unique protein sequences are identified in the uterosacral ligament connective tissues. The expression levels of 88 proteins are significantly different between prolapse and control groups (≥1.2-fold, p < 0.05). IPA demonstrates the association of 14 DEPs with "Connective Tissue Function." Among them, fibromodulin, collagen alpha-1 (XIV) chain, calponin-1, tenascin, and galectin-1 appear most likely to play a role in the etiology of POP., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: At least six proteins not previously associated with the pathogenesis of POP with biologic functions that suggest a plausible relationship to the disorder are identified. These results may be helpful for furthering the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of POP., (© 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Objective: To investigate the roles of prostatic infarction, prostatic inflammation and the type of prostatic hyperplasia in acute urinary retention (AUR) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 102 cases of BPH, 49 complicated by AUR and the other 53 without AUR. We compared the incidences of prostatic infarction and prostatic inflammation, the types of prostatic hyperplasia, the patients' age, the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA), the prostate volume, and international prostate symptom score (IPSS) between the AUR and non-AUR groups., Results: The PSA level was significantly increased in the AUR group as compared with the non-AUR group (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the mean age, prostate volume and IPSS (P > 0.05). The type of prostatic hyperplasia showed no correlation with AUR. The incidence rate of AUR was 5.620 and 2.326 times higher in the BPH patients with prostatic infarction and prostatic inflammation respectively than in those without (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Prostatic infarction and prostatic inflammation are important risk factors of AUR in BPH patients.

Objective: To explore the semen quality of the workers exposed to the xenoestrogen bisphenol A (BPA) was explored., Methods: A cross-sectional study of 20 BPA exposed and 16 control workers with similar age, physical activities was performed. Tests included quantifying BPA in blood samples and investigating the quantity and quality of semen. Semen parameters were determined with the method recommended by WHO., Results: 94.4% exposed workers were found BPA in blood, and the median was 101.94 microg/L. However, only 18.8% control subjects were found BPA in blood, and the median level was 0 microg/L. The sperm density of exposed workers [(68.65 +/- 44.00) x 10(6)/ml] was significantly lower than that of control [(118.56 +/- 98.36) x 10(6)/ml]. Relationship analysis showed the positive relationships (r = 0.44, P < 0.01) between the sperm with quick forward progression and BPA level in blood, negative relationships between the percentage of normal sperm and BPA level in blood (r = -0.62, P = 0.01)., Conclusion: BPA could affect the sperm density, and may influence the semen quality. More research should be performed on the effect and the mechanism of BPA on man.