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To improve the flame retardancy of polyamide 6 (PA6) fibers, melamine cyanurate (MCA)/PA6 composites were synthesized via in situ polymerization of ɛ-caprolactam in the presence of adipic acid-melamine salt and cyanuric acid-hexane diamine salt. The flame retardant MCA/PA6 composite fibers were prepared by melt spinning. The structure and properties of MCA/PA6 composites and MCA/PA6 composite fibers were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, tensile tests, vertical burning tests (UL94) and limiting oxygen index (LOI) tests. Experimental results indicated that the MCA/PA6 composites loaded with 8 wt% of additives can achieve UL94 V-0 rating with an LOI value of 29.3%. The tenacity at break of PA6 fiber decreased from 4.85 to 3.11 cN·dtex–1 for MCA/PA6-8 composite fiber. However, the MCA/PA6 composite fibers can effectively suppress the propagation of flame in fabric. This means that the in situ polymerization approach paves the way for the preparation of MCA/PA6 composites that have good spinnability and flame retardancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Genetically engineered mouse models are essential to the investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying human prostate pathology and the effects of therapy on the diseased prostate. Serial in vivo volumetric imaging expands the scope and accuracy of experimental investigations of models of normal prostate physiology, benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer, which are otherwise limited by the anatomy of the mouse prostate. Moreover, accurate imaging of hyperplastic and tumorigenic prostates is now recognized as essential to rigorous pre-clinical trials of new therapies. Bioluminescent imaging has been widely used to determine prostate tumor size, but is semi-quantitative at best. Magnetic resonance imaging can determine prostate volume very accurately, but is expensive and has low throughput. We therefore sought to develop and implement a high throughput, low cost, and accurate serial imaging protocol for the mouse prostate.Methods: We developed a high frequency ultrasound imaging technique employing 3D reconstruction that allows rapid and precise assessment of mouse prostate volume. Wild-type mouse prostates were examined (n = 4) for reproducible baseline imaging, and treatment effects on volume were compared, and blinded data analyzed for intra- and inter-operator assessments of reproducibility by correlation and for Bland-Altman analysis. Examples of benign prostatic hyperplasia mouse model prostate (n = 2) and mouse prostate implantation of orthotopic human prostate cancer tumor and its growth (n =  ) are also demonstrated.Results: Serial measurement volume of the mouse prostate revealed that high frequency ultrasound was very precise. Following endocrine manipulation, regression and regrowth of the prostate could be monitored with very low intra- and interobserver variability. This technique was also valuable to monitor the development of prostate growth in a model of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Additionally, we demonstrate accurate ultrasound image-guided implantation of orthotopic tumor xenografts and monitoring of subsequent tumor growth from ~10 to ~750 mm(3) volume.Discussion: High frequency ultrasound imaging allows precise determination of normal, neoplastic and hyperplastic mouse prostate. Low cost and small image size allows incorporation of this imaging modality inside clean animal facilities, and thereby imaging of immunocompromised models. 3D reconstruction for volume determination is easily mastered, and both small and large relative changes in volume are accurately visualized. Ultrasound imaging does not rely on penetration of exogenous imaging agents, and so may therefore better measure poorly vascularized or necrotic diseased tissue, relative to bioluminescent imaging (IVIS).Conclusions: Our method is precise and reproducible with very low inter- and intra-observer variability. Because it is non-invasive, mouse models of prostatic disease states can be imaged serially, reducing inter-animal variability, and enhancing the power to detect small volume changes following therapeutic intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impaired ethanol metabolism can lead to various alcohol-related health problems. Key enzymes in ethanol metabolism are alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH); however, neuroendocrine pathways that regulate the activities of these enzymes are largely unexplored. Here we identified a neuroendocrine system involving Corazonin (Crz) neuropeptide and its receptor (CrzR) as important physiological regulators of ethanol metabolism in Drosophila. Crz-cell deficient (Crz-CD) flies displayed significantly delayed recovery from ethanol-induced sedation that we refer to as hangover-like phenotype. Newly generated mutant lacking Crz Receptor (CrzR01) and CrzR-knockdown flies showed even more severe hangover-like phenotype, which is causally associated with fast accumulation of acetaldehyde in the CrzR01 mutant following ethanol exposure. Higher levels of acetaldehyde are likely due to 30% reduced ALDH activity in the mutants. Moreover, increased ADH activity was found in the CrzR01 mutant, but not in the Crz-CD flies. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed transcriptional upregulation of Adh gene in the CrzR01. Transgenic inhibition of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) also results in significantly increased ADH activity and Adh mRNA levels, indicating PKA-dependent transcriptional regulation of Adh by CrzR. Furthermore, inhibition of PKA or cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in CrzR cells leads to comparable hangover-like phenotype to the CrzR01 mutant. These findings suggest that CrzR-associated signaling pathway is critical for ethanol detoxification via Crz-dependent regulation of ALDH activity and Crz-independent transcriptional regulation of ADH. Our study provides new insights into the neuroendocrine-associated ethanol-related behavior and metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impaired ethanol metabolism can lead to various alcohol-related health problems. Key enzymes in ethanol metabolism are alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH); however, neuroendocrine pathways that regulate the activities of these enzymes are largely unexplored. Here we identified a neuroendocrine system involving Corazonin (Crz) neuropeptide and its receptor (CrzR) as important physiological regulators of ethanol metabolism in Drosophila. Crz-cell deficient (Crz-CD) flies displayed significantly delayed recovery from ethanol-induced sedation that we refer to as hangover-like phenotype. Newly generated mutant lacking Crz Receptor (CrzR01) and CrzR-knockdown flies showed even more severe hangover-like phenotype, which is causally associated with fast accumulation of acetaldehyde in the CrzR01 mutant following ethanol exposure. Higher levels of acetaldehyde are likely due to 30% reduced ALDH activity in the mutants. Moreover, increased ADH activity was found in the CrzR01 mutant, but not in the Crz-CD flies. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed transcriptional upregulation of Adh gene in the CrzR01. Transgenic inhibition of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) also results in significantly increased ADH activity and Adh mRNA levels, indicating PKA-dependent transcriptional regulation of Adh by CrzR. Furthermore, inhibition of PKA or cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in CrzR cells leads to comparable hangover-like phenotype to the CrzR01 mutant. These findings suggest that CrzR-associated signaling pathway is critical for ethanol detoxification via Crz-dependent regulation of ALDH activity and Crz-independent transcriptional regulation of ADH. Our study provides new insights into the neuroendocrine-associated ethanol-related behavior and metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the epidemiological characteristics of Keshan disease (KD) and its trend so as to provide evidences for further research, prevention and treatment of the disease in Sichuan province., Methods: Based on KD related data from 1990 to 2008, descriptive method was used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of KD., Results: 87 KD cases were identified during the 19 years. All cases were children from the countryside, with majority of them were Yi nationality. Age of the patients ranged from 5 months to 18 years, with majority at 2 - 6 year-olds. The annual incidence rates were from 0/100 000 to 1.73/100 000 with 1999 the highest (1.73/100 000). A total number of 310 preclinical or chronic KD cases were identified and the total detection rates were between 0.28% and 2.8%, with 1992 the highest. As for levels of blood selenium during the 19 years: 1995 appeared the lowest (0.1345 microg/g), followed by 1990 - 2000 (0.1558 microg/g) but all of them fell in to the level in the KD epidemic areas., Conclusion: There were 5 stages in the development trend of KD disease in Sichuan province, with 2 ascending and 3 descending. The differences between any of the two stages were statistically significant. The 3 descending stages all appeared right after the selenium supplement intervention was taken. Our data showed that the program of selenium supplement was closely related to the incidence of KD, suggesting that a long term mechanism of Selenium supplement in the epidemic areas should be taking into account.