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The objective was to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of pharmacological interventions for interstitial cystitis and bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) with direct and indirect evidence from randomized trials. We searched PubMed, the Cochrane library, and EMBASE for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the pharmacological therapies for IC/BPS. Primary efficacy outcomes included ICSI (O’Leary Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index), ICPI (O’Leary Sant Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index), 24-h micturition frequency, visual analog scale (VAS), and Likert score for pain. Safety outcomes are total adverse events (AEs, intravesical instillation, and others), gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, pain, and urinary symptoms. A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis were performed. A total of 23 RCTs with 1,871 participants were identified. The ICSI was significantly reduced in the amitriptyline group (MD = −4.9, 95% CI: −9.0 to −0.76), the cyclosporine A group (MD = -7.9, 95% CI: −13.0 to −3.0) and the certolizumab pegol group (MD = −3.6, 95% CI:−6.5 to −0.63) compared with placebo group. Moreover, for ICPI, cyclosporine A showed superior benefit compared to placebo (MD = −7.6, 95% CI: −13 to −2.3). VAS score improved significantly in cyclosporine A group than pentosan polysulfate sodium (MD = 3.09, 95% CI: 0.13 to 6.07). None of the agents revealed a significant alleviation of 24-h micturition frequency. In terms of safety outcomes, the incidence rate on urinary symptoms for botulinum toxin A was the only variate higher than chondroitin sulfate (MD = −2.02, 95% CI: −4.99 to 0.66) and placebo (MD = −1.60, 95% CI:−3.83 to 0.17). No significant difference was found among the other treatments. Cyclosporine A might be superior to other pharmacological treatments in efficacy. Amitriptyline and certolizumab pegol were capable of lowering the ICSI as well.

The objective was to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of pharmacological interventions for interstitial cystitis and bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) with direct and indirect evidence from randomized trials.We searched PubMed, the Cochrane library, and EMBASE for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the pharmacological therapies for IC/BPS. Primary efficacy outcomes included ICSI (O'Leary Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index), ICPI (O'Leary Sant Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index), 24-h micturition frequency, visual analog scale (VAS), and Likert score for pain. Safety outcomes are total adverse events (AEs, intravesical instillation, and others), gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, pain, and urinary symptoms. A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis were performed.A total of 23 RCTs with 1,871 participants were identified. The ICSI was significantly reduced in the amitriptyline group (MD = -4.9, 95% CI: -9.0 to -0.76), the cyclosporine A group (MD = -7.9, 95% CI: -13.0 to -3.0) and the certolizumab pegol group (MD = -3.6, 95% CI:-6.5 to -0.63) compared with placebo group. Moreover, for ICPI, cyclosporine A showed superior benefit compared to placebo (MD = -7.6, 95% CI: -13 to -2.3). VAS score improved significantly in cyclosporine A group than pentosan polysulfate sodium (MD = 3.09, 95% CI: 0.13 to 6.07). None of the agents revealed a significant alleviation of 24-h micturition frequency. In terms of safety outcomes, the incidence rate on urinary symptoms for botulinum toxin A was the only variate higher than chondroitin sulfate (MD = -2.02, 95% CI: -4.99 to 0.66) and placebo (MD = -1.60, 95% CI:-3.83 to 0.17). No significant difference was found among the other treatments.Cyclosporine A might be superior to other pharmacological treatments in efficacy. Amitriptyline and certolizumab pegol were capable of lowering the ICSI as well.

Two extremely halophilic archaea, designated YIM 90917 and YIM 93656(T), were isolated from saline soils in Yunnan province and Lup nur region in Xinjiang province, western China, respectively. Colonies of the two strains were observed to be pink-pigmented. The cells were found to be Gram-stain negative, coccoid and non-motile. The organisms were found to be aerobic and could grow in an NaCl range of 6-35 % (optimum 18 %), temperatures ranging from 25 to 50 °C (optimum 37-42 °C), pH range from 6.0-8.5 (optimum pH 7.0-7.5) and Mg(2+) range from 0 to 1.5 M (optimum 0.5-1.0 M); Mg(2+) was not necessary for growth. Cells were not observed to lyse in distilled water. Strains YIM 90917 and YIM 93656(T) showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Haladaptatus cibarius JCM 15962(T) (97.6 and 97.9 %, respectively). In addition, the DNA-DNA hybridizations of strains YIM 90917 and YIM 93656(T) with type strains H. cibarius JCM 15962(T), Haladaptatus litoreus JCM 15771(T) and Haladaptatus paucihalophilus JCM 13897(T) were 37.2 and 38.2 %, 36.6 and 39.0 % and 27.9 and 27.7 %, respectively. The DNA G+C contents of strains YIM 90917 and YIM 93656(T) were determined to be 56.0 and 57.4 mol%. The major polar lipids of the two strains were identified as phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, phosphatidylglycerol sulfate, sulfated mannosyl glucosyl diether and other four unidentified glycolipids. On the basis of physiological, chemotaxonomic data and phylogenetic analysis, the strains YIM 90917 and YIM 93656(T) can be classified as a novel species of the genus Haladaptatus, for which the name Haladaptatus pallidirubidus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 93656(T) (=JCM 17504(T) = CCTCC AB2010454(T)).

Natural landslide dams triggered by earthquakes are a common feature and a significant hazard in high-relief, tectonically active areas. The great Wenchuan Earthquake of May 12, 2008 created 256 natural dams, of which 34 presented significant risks to downstream areas in the event of their uncontrolled failure. Out of the 34 large landslide dams that warranted mitigation, we discuss Tangjiashan landslide dam in detail. Emergency response to the Tangjiashan landslide-dammed lake in the following weeks and months successfully reduced the risk, and the advantages and disadvantages of various countermeasures that were applied are summarized here. Successful strategies relied on accurate scientific assessments, on timely execution of the countermeasures, and on the correct design of sluiceway (spillway) channels across the landslide dams. Retrospective assessment indicates that the following improvements would be more beneficial: (1) Sluiceway channels utilizing a combination of cross-section types, rather than simply trapezoidal in shape; (2) increased channel slope, which is more than the original gradient of the river; (3) better protection of inlets and outlets to control the planned incision rates; and (4) channels lined to better control the incision rate. We discuss applications of the concept of artificially controlled failure, and we submit these observations for the benefit of those responding to future seismic catastrophes.

A case study of changes in the pattern of land use was undertaken to describe the impact of land-use policy reform, rapid industrialisation and urbanisation in an arid area with particular reference to the Fukang County of the Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region of western China, in the Tianshan Mountains region, between 1971 and 2006. Information was obtained from a range of sources on changes in the consumption of products and related to changes in their area of production since little exchange of crop and animal products occurred outside the County particularly during the earlier part of the period in the light of the traditional self-sufficiency in inland undeveloped counties of western China. It was found that an unrestrained boom in the consumption of energy resources and animal products to promote economic activity and to increase the standard of living of humans led to a rapidly increased production from land resources. However, continuously expanding resource consumption quickly crossed the threshold of land ecosystem rehabilitation and caused unsustainable land-use patterns, especially in the transitional grassland–cropland area. The study demonstrated that grazing land is exposed to more ecological risks than cropland and forestland, not only due to enormously expanding requirements for and decreasing supply of grazing land but also Kazak herdsmen’s inability to cope with the management of change in the use of the grassland resource largely because of their poor economic status, lack of knowledge, passive response to rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, and some cultural conflicts.