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Three alternate TiN/AlN nanostructured multilayers with the TiN layer thicknesses of 60, 70, and 120 Å and the AlN layer thickness of 10 Å were fabricated using dc reactive magnetron sputtering. Microstructural characterizations of the three nano-scale films were performed using nonpolarized specular neutron reflectometry. The results showed that the three TiN/AlN multilayer thin films were typical superlattice films and the thicknesses of the TiN layer and AlN layer in the multilayers were consistent with the design thickness nearly. The interface roughness was asymmetric in all the samples. The interface of AlN growing on TiN was much sharper than that of TiN growing on AlN and the latter was the diffusion interface in the TiN/AlN multilayer films.

A hybrid scheme (DUGKS-FVM) of the discrete unified gas-kinetic scheme (DUGKS) and finite volume method (FVM) is developed for the electroconvection simulation in the dielectric liquid. DUGKS is applied to solve flow fields, and FVM is utilized to solve the reduced set of Maxwell's equations, while both use the identical computational mesh. Numerical examples for both strong and weak injection regimes are carried out. A systematic study including accuracy and efficiency is performed to evaluate the performance of the proposed hybrid scheme by comparing with FVM and unified lattice Boltzmann model (LBM). The good agreement shows that the DUGKS-FVM scheme is reliable and accurate. Meanwhile, the comprehensive comparison shows that the DUGKS-FVM scheme is more efficient than FVM with SIMPLE algorithm, and its numerical stability is much better than LBM. While the computational efficiency of DUGKS-FVM can be extensively improved by non-uniform meshes without additional efforts. The results prove the present method can be used to study electroconvection flows especially under extreme parameters.

A detailed numerical investigation for oscillatory electro-thermo-convection of dielectric liquids in horizontal eccentric annulus is carried out based on a unified lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The liquid is under the simultaneous action of a strong unipolar charge injection and a thermal gradient. The self-oscillatory behaviors and heat transfer characteristics for different Rayleigh number Ra, electric Rayleigh number T, Prandtl number Pr, mobility parameter M and radii ratio are studied systematically. The results show that the values of Ra within the range from 103 to 104 have little effect on the periodic oscillatory convection, while the flow develops from steady to periodic oscillatory and finally evolves into chaotic as T increases, and the fundamental frequency and the fluctuation amplitude as well as the heat transfer rate increase with T. Moreover, it is found that the fluid properties have significant impact on the oscillatory convection, and the formation of oscillating flows is strongly related to the value of radius ratio.

Dimer impurity in the solution of a generation five (G5) polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer has been investigated by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The existence of dimer impurity in dendrimer solution was evidenced by indirect Fourier transform (IFT) analysis of the SANS data, in which the maximum dimension of particles in solution was found to be about twice the diameter of G5 dendrimer. We then developed an analytical model which accounts for the scattering contribution from both dendrimer monomer and dimer. The experimental data were well fitted by using the established model. The results showed that the amount of dimer impurities is significant for the measured three batches of G5 PAMAM dendrimers.

The nonlinear evolution of electrohydrodynamic flow subjected to unipolar injection in the dielectric liquid is extended from Newtonian fluids to viscoelastic fluids. The effect of viscoelasticity not only precipitates the onset of chaos but also leads to new transition sequences to chaos. Moreover, an asymmetric steady flow pattern is observed in a perfectly symmetric geometry. In viscoelastic fluids, the electric current transfer is reduced in most cases, but for weakly elastic fluid, it may be enhanced.

Epilepsy with comorbid depression has recently attracted increasing attention. Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) may represent an increased risk of developing depression, especially if the seizures do not generalize. The two-pore domain potassium channel-TWIK-related K

Electro-thermo-hydrodynamic (ETHD) flow induced by the simultaneous Coulomb and buoyancy forces in a dielectric medium is studied using the lattice Boltzmann method. Nonautonomous charge injection from a high temperature inner elliptical electrode to two cold parallel-plate electrodes is considered. Systematical simulations are conducted for ETHD problems with different injection models and non-dimensional parameters, including electric Rayleigh number T, Rayleigh number Ra and the ellipticity e of the elliptical electrode. It is found that the charge transport process, flow instability and heat transfer enhancement are significant affected by nonautonomous injection, especially in the Coulomb force dominant flow regime and the large ellipticity cases. Quantitatively, for dielectric liquid M = 10, e = 2 and Pr = 10 under strong injection C = 10, when compared to the autonomous charge injection assumption, nonautonomous injection shown an average of 16.4% increases in the mean Nusselt number within the range of driving parameters explored (103 ≤ Ra ≤ 107, 300 ≤ T ≤ 1800).

The natural convection heat transfer in a dielectric liquid confined in horizontal cylindrical annuli and enhanced by imposing a direct current electric field is numerically investigated using a unified lattice Boltzmann method. This augmentation of heat transfer is attributed to the flow motion induced by the Coulomb force due to the electric field exerting on free charges injected from the inner cylinder. Both concentric and eccentric configurations are considered. It is found that there exists a threshold of the electric driving parameter T, above which the heat transfer enhancement due to the electric effect becomes significant for concentric cases. For eccentric configuration, this change becomes relatively gentle. In addition, the influence of the eccentricity on heat transfer enhancement is also studied.

Micellization mechanism of biosurfactant/synthetic surfactant systems is essential in predicting their industrial applications. Biosurfactant, [Glu1,Asp5]-C15 surfactin, mixing with three isomers of sodium cetyl benzenesulfonate (SCBS) with benzenesulfonate attached at the 2nd, 5th, 8th carbon on the alkyl chain (abbreviated as 2-SCBS, 5-SCBS, and 8-SCBS), constituted the binary biosurfactant/synthetic surfactant systems in this work. Effects of mixing ratios, temperature, and hydrophobic structures of SCBS on micellization process were investigated by surface tensiometry, steady state fluorescence measurements, dynamic light scattering, and small angle neutron scattering. The results showed that at 60 ℃ synergism in micellization occurred in surfactin/2-SCBS and surfactin/5-SCBS binary systems, while antagonism appeared in surfactin/8-SCBS binary systems. Molecular interaction in mixed micelle at 60 ℃ turned from strong attractive to strong repulsive with the benzenesulfonate moving from the end to the middle of the alkyl chain. Surfactin exhibited weak interaction with both 5-SCBS and 8-SCBS at 25 ℃. Mixed surfactin/2-SCBS micelles were formed in spherical cylinders with more hydrophobic core and within 66 A. Mixed surfactin/5-SCBS micelles and mixed surfactin/8-SCBS micelles showed similar morphology evolutions at 25 ℃, long elliptical cylinders transformed into small spherical cylinder by reducing both length and radius ratio of cross section with increasing surfactin mole fraction.

The Basu metamorphic complex, surrounded by ophiolitic melanges and intruded by a large volume of undeformed granitoid rocks along the eastern segment of the Bangong-Nujiang suture, holds one of the keys to understanding the pre-Cenozoic tectonic evolution of central Tibet. Zircon U-Pb dating of rocks from the Basu metamorphic complex reveals that meta-igneous rocks yield Early Paleozoic crystallization ages of 500–492 Ma and an Early Jurassic metamorphic age of ~ 173 Ma, and that undeformed granitoid rocks yield crystallization ages of approximately 186–174 Ma. Whole rock geochemical and zircon Lu-Hf isotopic data indicate that the undeformed granitoid rocks originated mainly from partial melting of ancient crustal sources, which may reflect a collisional orogenic setting. 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dating of biotite from a sillimanite-garnet-biotite paragneiss shows cooling to 300 ± 50 °C at ~ 165 Ma. These data indicate significant Early Jurassic tectonism, during which most of the Basu metamorphic complex was formed. Furthermore, the age data resemble those of the Amdo metamorphic complex located approximately 500 km to the west along the Bangong-Nujiang suture. Together, these complexes may represent a “destroyed or unrecognized” block, i.e., the Amdo-Tongka block, which may be the eastern extension of the South Qiangtang terrane. Based on the tectonic outlines of the multiple ophiolitic zones and magmatic belts, we suggest a new archipelago-accretion model that attributes the Early Jurassic tectonism to an arc-continent/micro-continent collision. This model further enables the reconstruction of the eastern Tethyan Ocean and the orogenic processes of central Tibet during the Mesozoic.

Electro-thermo-convection is a typical interdisciplinary problem, that has been widely studied in terms of its physical phenomena in Newtonian fluids. As an essential supplement to the study of electrohydrodynamics, electro-thermo-convection in power-law fluids within rectangular enclosures is investigated in this paper. Two geometrical configurations are considered, namely differentially heated vertical and horizontal wall configurations. The governing equations are discretized using the finite volume scheme, and the bifurcations, flow patterns, and heat transfer efficiency under different power-law indexes are studied. A comprehensive comparison between the Newtonian and non-Newtonian cases is presented. The results indicate that electro-thermo-convection in power-law fluids exhibits more complicated hydrodynamic behavior than in Newtonian fluids. The shear-thinning characteristic decreases the criterion of subcritical bifurcation and corresponds to a smaller hysteresis loop, whereas the shear-thickening characteristic has an opposite effect. The bifurcation diagrams exhibit various features under different power-law indexes, and some of which have not been observed in Newtonian fluids. Additionally, the effects of the non-Newtonian behavior on the temporal evolution of the flow are discussed, and the fluid motion is found to be sensitive to the power-law index.

The 46,XX male disorder of sex development (DSD) is rarely observed in humans. Patients with DSD are all male with testicular tissue differentiation. The mechanism of sex determination and differentiation remains to be elucidated. In the present case report, an 46,XX inv (9) infertile male negative for the sex-determining region of the Y chromosome (SRY) gene was examined. This infertile male was systemically assessed by semen analysis, serum hormone testing and gonadal biopsy. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded gonad tissues were assessed histochemically. The SRY gene was analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The other 23 specific loci, including the azoospermia factor region on the Y chromosome and the sequence-targeted sites of the SRY-box 9 (SOX9) gene were analyzed by PCR. The genes RSPO1, DAX1, SOX3, ROCK, DMRT1, SPRY2 and FGF9 were also assessed using sequencing analysis. Affymetrix Cytogenetics Whole Genome 2.7 M Arrays were used for detecting the genomic DNA from the patient and the parents. The patient with the 46,XX inv (9) (p11q13) karyotype exhibited male primary, however, not secondary sexual characteristics. However, the patient's mother with the 46, XX inv (9) karyotype was unaffected. The testicular tissue dysplasia of the patient was confirmed by tissue biopsy and absence of the SRY gene, and the other 23 loci on the Y chromosome were confirmed by FISH and/or PCR. The RSPO1, DAX1, SOX3, ROCK, DMRT1, SPRY2 and FGF9 genes were sequenced and no mutations were detected. A duplication on the 3 M site in the upstream region of SOX9 was identified in the patient as well as in the mother. The patient with the 46,XX testicular DSD and SRY-negative status was found to be infertile. The duplication on the 3 M site in the upstream region of SOX9 was a polymorphism, which indicated that the change was not a cause of 46,XX male SDS. These clinical, molecular and cytogenetic findings suggested that other unidentified genetic or environmental factors are significant in the regulation of SDS.

This paper numerically investigates the effect of unipolar charge injection on the onset of Rayleigh-Benard convection (RBC) in a layer of insulating liquid contained between two parallel plates. A recent developed unified model on the basis of the mesoscopic lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is employed to solve the entire macro control equations. Two different cases of charge injection from above and from below are considered. It is interesting to find that the charge injection advances the onset of convection regardless of the injection direction. Besides, the decrease of critical Rayleigh number, along with the increase of flow intensity and the enhancement of heat transfer resulting from charge injection remain the same for different injection directions. However, the results show that the charge injection directions have significant effect on temperature and charge density distribution, as well as the evolution of flow motion, especially for the case of larger electric Rayleigh number. In addition, the effects of Prandtl number, the mobility number and the injection number are also studied.

Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) technique allows characterizing the nanomicrostructure of the ferritic Oxide Dispersion Strengthened (ODS) steels which are candidates for the structure material of fusion reactor and fast reactor. A SANS study of domestic ferritic ODS alloys are presented. The main objective is to study the evolution of the oxide dispersion nanoparticle during the different stages of the fabrication and different content.

In order to make best use of the neutron flux, a polarized neutron reflectometry with vertical sample geometry is simulated by Vitess package based on Monte Carlo method. The results prove that the neutron flux gain up to a factor reaches 4.3 and the vertical neutron angle divergence is proved, when the optimal tilting angle of the vertically focusing geranium monochromator is 1.3°. At last the optimal separations of horizontal blades of slit packages are optimized. The parameters can be an instruction for polarized neutron reflectometry construction or project analysis in the future.

The reversal process of an exchange spring trilayer was studied by micromagnetic simulation, simulating the hysteresis loop and magnetic domain wall structure of a soft/hard/soft ferromagnetic exchange spring. The exchange spring effect was observed, determining the chirality of its spiral magnetization configuration. By simulation of the domain wall structure, we find that reversal nucleation emerge simultaneously in either surface of two soft layers and the magnetic moments of hard layer start rotation at reversible stage.

Purpose: Our aim is to examine ictal onset patterns (IOPs), extratemporal early propagations (EPs) and inner relationship between them based on stereo-electroencephalography recordings in the patients with atypical temporal lobe epilepsy, and to evaluate their impact on seizure prognosis and cognitive outcomes after epilepsy surgery. Methods: Forty-three patients were included in this retrospective study. Five to sixteen multilead electrodes were implanted per patient. All of them underwent a standard craniotomy for tailored resection of the hypothetical epileptogenic zone. Post-operative seizure status and cognitive outcomes were evaluated by Engle’s classification, Wechsler intelligence and Wechsler memory scale. Results: Four types of IOPs were identified in the 43 patients. The patients with low frequency highamplitude periodic spikes (LFPS) and spike or poly-spike fast discharges (SpFD) had better seizure outcomes. There were ten patients with extratemporal EPs, who had worse clinical outcomes than those without extratemporal EPs (Engel’s class I: χ2 =10.689, p=0.001; Engel’s class Ia: χ2 =4.251, p=0.039). Three conditions related to IOPs and extratemporal EPs were combined to predict the seizure prognosis after operation. The sensitivity and specificity were 90.0% and 78.6% for Engel’s class I, and were 87.0% and 55.0% for Engel’s class Ia. The patients with LFPS showed more significant improvement in memory quotient (MQ) but not in full intelligence quotient (FIQ) than those with other IOPs. Conclusions: IOPs and extratemporal EPs are closely related to seizure status and cognitive outcomes after epilepsy surgery in atypical TLE patients.

To investigate the effect of hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHCy) on penile erectile function in a rat model, a methionine-rich diet was used in which erectile function, the reproductive system, and nitric oxide synthase were characterized. The intracavernous pressure, apomorphine experiments, measurement of oxidative stress, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions and measurement of endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity were utilized. Our results showed that erections in the middle-dose, high-dose, and interference (INF) groups were significantly lower than the control (P P

Electro-thermo-hydrodynamic (ETHD) flows induced by simultaneous Coulomb and buoyancy forces in a dielectric medium are studied. Previous results limited to two dimensions are extended to three dimensions. The fully coupled governing equations, including the Navier–Stokes equations, the electrohydrodynamic equations, and the energy equation, are solved using a unified lattice Boltzmann model. Various flow patterns, determined by the balance between the buoyancy-driven mechanism and the Coulomb-driven mechanism, can be observed for different combinations of the governing parameters (the electric Rayleigh number T and the Rayleigh number Ra). It is found that the electrical effect on enhancement of heat transfer becomes significant at a relatively low value of Ra. Besides, an approximately linear relationship is found between the Nusselt number Nu and T. Finally, ETHD flows for different directions of charge injection are investigated, and the results reveal that the heat transfer performance of the system is improved when the injection direction is the same as the direction of the temperature gradient.

Several studies have investigated the association between polymorphisms in protamine 1 and 2 genes and male infertility risk, with inconsistent results to date. This meta-analysis based on the 13 published case-control studies, including 7350 cases and 6167 controls, was performed to further establish the potential association between the 6 common single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs35576928, rs737008, rs35262993, rs2301365, rs1646022, rs2070923) in protamines 1 and 2 and male infertility. The -190C > A (rs2301365) polymorphism was identified as a risk factor for male infertility under all models. Interestingly, rs1646022 and rs737008 polymorphisms exerted protective effects against male sterility in Asian and population-based under some models. No associations between the remaining SNPs and male sterility were observed.

To investigate the effect of Bushengzhuyang Fang (Yangjing Capsule, YJC) on penile erectile function and its action mechanisms in rats.Fifty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups of equal number: blank control, daidzein, daidzein + testosterone, daidzein + sildenafil, daidzein + low-dose YJC, daidzein + medium-dose YJC, and daidzein + high-dose YJC. The rats in the blank control group were treated intragastrically with normal saline and those in the other groups with daidzein at the dose of 100 mg per kg per day for 30 days. Then the last five groups received additionally testosterone (4 mg per kg per day), sildenafil (2.5 mg per kg per day), low-dose YJC, (0.315 mg per kg per day), medium-dose YJC (0.63 mg per kg per day), and high-dose YJC (1. 26 mg per kg per day), respectively. At 0, 30 and 60 days of treatment, we observed the apomorphine-induced spontaneous erectile response and pathological changes in the corpus cavernosum of the rats, recorded the number of penile erection and erectile incubation period, and determined the serum levels of testosterone (T) and luteinizing hormone (LH).At 30 days of treatment, the number of apomorphine-induced erections was decreased, the erectile incubation period prolonged, and the serum levels of T and LH reduced remarkably in all groups of rats (P0.05). Compared with the findings at 30 days, the number of penile erections was significantly decreased at 60 days in the daidzein group (1.39 ± 0.42 vs 2.67 ± 0.33, P0.05) and daidzein + low-dose YJC group (1.33 ± 0.49 vs 2.83 ± 0.61, P0.05); the erectile incubation period was markedly ex- tended ([16.33 ± 3.11] vs [8.50 ± 0.93] min and [15.50 ± 3.21] vs [8.63 ± 1.54] min, P0.05); and the serum levels of T ([5.34 ± 0.89] vs [1.24 ± 0.30] ng/ml and [5.28 ± 1.12] vs [2.07 ± 0.76] ng/ml, P0.05) and LH ([3.62 ± 0.37] vs [2.09 ± 0.12] ng/ml and [3.79 ± 0.28] vs [2.17 ± 0.33] ng/ml, P0.05) were significantly reduced in the daidzein and daidzein + low-dose YJC groups, respectively. Pathological examination revealed slightly decreased cavernous sinuses and blood vessels in the corpus cavernosum of the rats in the daidzein + testosterone, daidzein + sildenafil, daidzein + medium-dose YJC, and daidzein + high-dose YJC groups as compared with those in the blank control group.High-dose Yangjing Capsule is efficacious for the recovery of erectile function in rats, especially for phytoestrogen-induced erectile dysfunction.

Background To identify the genetic defects and investigate the possible mechanism of cataract genesis in a five-generation family with autosomal dominant congenital posterior polar cataracts. Methods Clinical data were collected, and the lens phenotypes of the affected members in this family were recorded by slit lamp photography. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood using QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kits. Twenty-three mutational hot spots associated with autosomal dominant congenital posterior polar cataracts were screened by PCR-based DNA sequencing. Properties and structural models of wild-type and mutant alpha-B (αB)-crystallin (CRYAB) were generated and analyzed using SWISS-MODEL. Results All affected individuals in this family started to exhibit poor vision at the age of 8–10 years. The lens opacity consisted of a single, well-defined plaque, 0.5–3 mm in diameter, which was confined to the posterior pole of the lens. DNA sequencing analysis of the affected members showed a novel, heterozygous missense mutation c.59C > G (P20R) in exon 1 of the CRYAB gene. This mutation was not found in 10 unaffected family members, or in 200 unaffected and unrelated individuals, thereby excluding the possibility that it is a rare polymorphism. Data generated using the ProtScale and PyMOL programs revealed that the mutation altered the stability and solubility of the αB-crystallin protein. Conclusions This study reported a novel c.59C > G (P20R) missense mutation in CRYAB in a five-generation Chinese family with posterior polar cataract. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2415-14-108) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

To establish a rat model of autoimmune prostatitis using purified prostatic proteins (PPP).Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomized into three groups of equal number to receive intramuscular injection of normal saline (normal control group) and PPP at 15 mg/ml (low-concentration group) and 80 mg/ml (high-concentration group). At 4 weeks after modeling, the rats were sacrificed for HE staining of the prostate tissue and examination of the inflammatory factors IL-8 and IL-10 in the serum, immunoglobulins IgA and IgM, and regulatory T cells Th1/Th2.Three rats died in the high-concentration PPP group but none in the low-concentration PPP and normal control groups. Gross observation of the prostate showed increased volume and hard texture of the prostate in the two PPP groups, but no significant change in the normal controls. Pathological examination exhibited morphological damage to the prostatic tissue and inflammatory cellular infiltration in the experimental rats. The serum level of IL-8 was significantly higher in the low- and high-concentration PPP groups ([129.07 +/- 11.48] and [147.58 +/- 17.70] pg/ml) than in the control ([94.12 +/- 7.04] pg/ml) (P0.05), while that of IL-10 was remarkably lower in the former two groups ([227.14 +/- 18.19] and [187.14 +/- 16.32] pg/ml) than in the latter ([252.48 +/- 21.72] pg/ml, P0.05). The serum level of IgA was markedly elevated in the low- and high-concentration PPP groups as compared with that in the control ([0.25 +/- 0.37] and [0.31 +/- 0.42] vs [0.19 +/- 0.14] mg/ml, P0.05), and so was that of IgM ([0.23 +/- 0.41] and [0.34 +/- 0.58 ] vs [0.17 +/- 0.33] mg/ml, P0.05). No significant changes were observed in the levels of regulatory T cells Th1/Th2.Both low and high concentrations of purified prostatic proteins can be used for the construction of autoimmune prostatitis models in rats, while low concentration is preferable for its advantages of lower mortality of the rats and inducement of more consistent manifestations of autoimmune prostatitis.

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Compound Xuanju Capsule (CXC) on autoimmune prostatitis in rat models.Sixty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups of equal number: blank control, low-concentration purified prostate protein (low-conc PPP), low-conc PPP + CXC treatment, high-concentration PPP (hi-con PPP), and hi-conc PPP + CXC treatment. Autoimmune prostatitis models were established by intragastric administration of PPP solution at 15 mg/ml (low concentration) and 80 mg/ml, respectively. At 30 days after modeling, the rats in the blank control and low-conc and hi-conc PPP model groups were treated with normal saline, and those in the other two groups with CXC at a daily dose of 0.068 g/ml. At 30, 45, and 60 days, all the animals were sacrificed for observation of pathological changes in the prostate tissue and determination of the levels of IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-alpha in the serum.Compared with the PPP models, the hi-conc PPP + CXC group showed significantly reduced levels of IL-8 and TNF-alpha in the serum at 45 days ([148.54 +/- 17.23] and [62.14 +/- 5.59] pg/ml vs [100.77 +/- 11.08] and [32.63 +/- 2.91] pg/ml, P0.05) and at 60 days ([143.69 +/- 17.28] and [59.38 +/- 5.50] pg/mlvs [95.77 +/-10.53] and [29.63 +/- 2.66] pg/ml, P0.05), and so did the low-cone PPP + CXC group at 45 days ([128.47 +/- 12.21] and [40.43 +/- 3.64] pg/ml vs [111.76 +/- 10.07] and [35.44 +/- 3.17] pg/ml, P0.05) and at 60 days ([131.07 +/- 10.93] and [43.34 +/- 3.91] pg/ml vs [97.46 +/- 8.75] and [30.44 +/- 2.75] pg/ml, P0.05). The serum level of IL-10 was remarkably elevated in the hi-cone PPP + CXC group as compared with that of the PPP models at 45 and 60 days ([189.14 +/- 16.78] and [184.14 +/- 15.89] pg/ml vs [230.48 +/- 29.96] and [248.48 +/- 31.03] pg/ml, P0.05), and so was it in low-cone PPP + CXC group ([223.14 +/- 17.87] and [224.14 +/- 17.93] pg/ml vs [231.42 +/- 23.18] and [249.42 +/- 24.97] pg/ml, P0.05). Pathological examination revealed morphological damages to the prostate tissue and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the model rats, but no obvious changes in the normal controls. At 15 days of treatment, the rats in the PPP + CXC group showed enlarged prostate glandular cavity, mild proliferation of epithelial cells, no obvious infiltration of inflammatory cells in the interstitial tissue, and a few visible fibrous tissues under the light microscope.Compound Xuanju Capsule is efficacious on autoimmune prostatis in rats by reducing inflammatory changes in the prostate tissue and improving the expression of inflammatory factors.

Partial trisomy 9 is a common autosomal trisomy, which is characterized by non-specific psychomotor delay, mental retardation and moderately abnormal characteristic facial features. Generally, partial trisomy 9 leads to variable phenotypes depending on the size and position of the duplicated region. However, a precise genotype/phenotype map has not been determined. The present study reports the case of a 3-year-old female with certain typical features of trisomy 9p syndrome, who presented with a number of the distinctive symptoms, as well as sensorineural hearing loss, which has not previously been associated with this trisomy. Karyotype, M‑FISH and OaCGH analysis were performed on the patient and her parents. The final karyotype was determined to be 47, XX, +mar.ish der (9) (wcp9+). arr cgh 9pterq21.12 (DOCK8 → LOC138225)x3. Cytogenetic results showed a de novo extra der (9) with 69.5 Mb duplication. Although the molecular mechanism underlying the hearing loss is unclear, it was proposed that the 9q13 → 9q21 region may be critical for hearing.

In this study, a short stature male with infertility is reported. Semen analysis and serum concentrations of FSH, LH, T and PRL were estimated. Chromosome analysis was performed on lymphocytes obtained from both the male and his parents. Cytogenomic studies were performed by fluorescent in situ hybridisation and the CytoScan(™) HD array analysis to detect Y chromosomal rearrangements and copy number mutations. Semen analysis showed severe oligozoospermia. Numerous spermatogenic cells were observed in the semen, and approximately 60% of the cells examined in semen were primary spermatocytes, showing spermatogenic arrest at the primary spermatocyte level. Cytogenomic studies of blood revealed his karyotype which was 46,X,i(Y) (p11.32) (Yqter→Yp11.32::Yp11.32→Yqter).ish (DYZ3++, SRY++, SHOX-). array (PLCXD1→SHOX) ×1,(SRY →GOLGA2P3Y)×2, (DHRSX→ ASMT, SPRY3 →IL9R)×3. The rearrangement Y chromosome is de novo. This is the first case reported with a nonmosaic 46,X, i (Y) (p11.32), which will be useful to estimate the infertility phenotype-molecular karyotype correlation. Haploinsufficiency of short stature homeobox-containing gene is primarily responsible for the short stature. Aberrations in pseudoautosomal region 1 on the rearranged Y chromosome may result in the deficiency of X-Y pairing or recombination, ultimately lead to the spermatogenic failure.

There is increasing evidence that neuronal cell death induced by seizures occurs via extrinsic (death receptors) and intrinsic (mitochondria) pathways. Caspase-8 cleaves Bid, which releases cytochrome c, bridging the "extrinsic" and "intrinsic" pathways. Cleavage of Bid may amplify caspase-8-induced neuronal cell death following seizures. In the present study, we explored the effect of an inhibitor of caspase-8 (z-IETD-fmk) on the release of Smac/DIABLO and cytochrome c from mitochondria. Rats received intra-amygdaloid injection of kainic acid (KA) to induce seizures for 1 h. The seizures were then terminated by diazepam (30 mg/kg). The damaged and surviving neurons in hippocampus were observed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and cresyl violet staining, the expression of caspase-8, Bid, XIAP, caspase-9, cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO were detected with immunofluorescence and Western blot. The cleavage of caspase-8 and Bid increased at 0 h, cytosolic fraction of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO increased by 2 h, cleavage of caspase-9 was detected by 4 h, TUNEL-positive neurons appeared at 8 h and reached a maximum at 24 h following administration of diazepam in the ipsilateral CA3 subfield of hippocampus. Inhibition of caspase-8 significantly decreased neuronal cell death, accompanied by reduction of t-Bid, cleaved caspase-9 and cytosol cytochrome c. Smac/DIABLO from mitochondria was not affected. These results suggest that seizures can lead the translocation of cytochrome c into the cytosol, and the activation of caspase-8 occurs upstream the mitochondria release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO. Inhibition of caspase-8 attenuated neuronal cell death following seizures by decreasing mitochondria release of cytochrome c but not Smac/DIABLO.

The purpose of the present study was to explore the seizure-induced changes in Bad (Bcl-2-associated death protein), 14-3-3, phosphoBad, Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL expression in the rat model of focal limbic seizure. Unilateral intra-amygdaloid injection of kainic acid (KA) was made to induce seizure. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and regional cerebral flow (r-CBF) were monitored continuously. Diazepam (30 mg/kg) was administered to terminate the seizure. The apoptotic and surviving neurons in the hippocampus were observed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferrase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and cresyl violet staining, the expression of Bad, 14-3-3, phosphoBad, Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL were detected with immunofluorescence, Western blot and immunoprecipitation. The results showed that TUNEL-positive neurons appeared at 8 h and reached maximum at 24 h following seizure cessation within the ipsilateral CA3 subfield of the hippocampus. Seizure induced the dephosphorylation of Bad and the dissociation of Bad from its chaperone protein 14-3-3 and subsequent dimerization of Bad with Bcl-XL. The expression of phosphoBad decreased and Bcl-2 increased. There was little change in r-CBF after the seizure. These results suggest that seizure leads to a dephosphorylation of Bad and an upregulation of Bcl-2. Dephosphorylation of Bad may be injurious while the upregulation of Bcl-2 may be protective to the brain damage induced by seizures, but not related with r-CBF.

To determine whether Smac/DIABLO (second mitochondrial activator of caspases/direct inhibitor of apoptosis protein-binding protein of low isoelectric point [PI]) and XIAP (X-chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein) serve to regulate neuronal apoptosis following seizures, we investigated seizure-induced changes in caspase-9, Smac/DIABLO and XIAP protein expression and the in vivo effect of caspase-9 inhibition. Animals received unilateral intra-amygdaloid injection of kainic acid (0.5 microg) to induce seizures for 1 h. The seizures were then terminated by diazepam (30 mg/kg). Animals were killed 0, 2, 4, 8, 24 or 72 h following diazepam administration. The apoptotic and surviving neurons in hippocampus were observed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and cresyl violet staining, the expression of Smac/DIABLO, XIAP and caspase-9 was detected with immunofluorescence and western blot. The results showed that the levels of XIAP and the 46-kDa proenzyme form of caspase-9 were unaffected by the seizures. The expression of Smac increased at 2 h and the 37-kD cleaved fragment of caspase-9 was detected at 4 h, TUNEL-positive neurons appeared at 8 h and reached maximal at 24 h following seizure cessation within the ipsilateral (the same side as the intra-amygdaloid injection of kainic acid) CA3 subfield of the hippocampus. Intracerebroventricular infusion of caspase-9 inhibitor z-LEHD-fluoromethyl ketone (z-LEHD-fmk) significantly decreased TUNEL-positive neurons and increased the number of surviving cells. Caspase-9 immunoreactivity increased and Smac/DIABLO, XIAP immunoreactivity became extensive within the ipsilateral CA3 neurons. TUNEL-positive neurons and the alterations of the expression of Smac/DIABLO and XIAP within the ipsilateral CA3 were not detected within the contralateral hippocampus. These results suggest that seizures lead the translocation of Smac/DIABLO into the cytosol, the activation of caspase-9 and the change of subcellular locoalization of XIAP. These changes may play a role in the brain damage induced by seizures. Caspase-9 is possibly a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of brain injury associated with seizures.