This study compared the efficacy of 70- and 120-w 2-μm thulium：YAG VapoEnucleation of the prostate （ThuVEP） for patients with benign prostatic obstruction （BPO）. A prospective analysis of 84 patients with sympto...This study compared the efficacy of 70- and 120-w 2-μm thulium：YAG VapoEnucleation of the prostate （ThuVEP） for patients with benign prostatic obstruction （BPO）. A prospective analysis of 84 patients with symptomatic BPO and prostatic enlargement （t〉 60 ml） who underwent either 70-w （n=44） or 120-w ThuVEP （n=40） non-randomly was carried out. Patient demographics and perioperative and 12-month follow-up data were analysed. The mean prostate volume was 79.90---27.49 ml in patients who had received 70-w ThuVEP, which was less than in those who had received 120-w ThuVEP （88.53＋-25.10; P=0.033）. The mean enucleation （resected weight/laser time, 2.16±1.21 g min-1 vs. 1.23±0.60 g min-1; P=-0.013）, operation efficiency （resected weight/total operation time, 0.76±0.35 g min-1 vs. 0.42＋-0.27 g min-1; P=-0.000） and percentage of resected tissue （66.93%±22.79% vs. 45.41%±23.33%; P=-0.000） were higher with 120-w treatment compared to 70-w ThuVEP. One patient （1.2% of total patients） （in the 120-w group） required a blood transfusion postoperatively. Sixty-one patients （73%） were available for review at the 12-month follow-up time point. The quality of life （QoL）, International Prostate Symptom Score （IPSS）, maximum urinary flow rate （Qmax）, postvoiding residual urine （PVR） and prostate volume improved significantly after treatment （P≤ 0.035） and were not significantly different between those treated with the different devices （70- and 120-w）. The median prostate volume reduction was 81.70% and 82.19% with 70- and 120-w ThuVEP, respectively. The incidence of complications was low and did not differ between groups treated with the different devices. Two patients （2.4%） （one per group） had a bladder neck contracture at the follow-up. ThuVEP is a safe and efficacious procedure for the treatment of symptomatic BPO. The incidence of complications was low with both devices. The 120-w thulium：YAG device enhances the effectiveness of Th,VE展开更多
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a relapsing and remitting disease characterised by chronic mucosal and submucosal inflammation of the colon and rectum. Treatment may vary depending upon the extent and severity of inflammat...Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a relapsing and remitting disease characterised by chronic mucosal and submucosal inflammation of the colon and rectum. Treatment may vary depending upon the extent and severity of inflammation. Broadly speaking medical treatments aim to induce and then maintain remission. Surgery is indicated for inflammatory disease that is refractory to medical treatment or in cases of neoplastic transformation. Approximately 25% of patients with UC ultimately require colectomy. Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) has become the standard of care for patients with ulcerative colitis who ultimately require colectomy. This review will examine indications for IPAA, patient selection, technical aspects of surgery, management of complications and long term outcome following this procedure.展开更多
GISAID is a global data science initiative and the primary source of genomic and associated metadata of all influenza viruses,Respiratory Syncytial Virus(RSV)and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-Co...GISAID is a global data science initiative and the primary source of genomic and associated metadata of all influenza viruses,Respiratory Syncytial Virus(RSV)and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),the pandemic coronavirus causing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).GISAID’s publicly accessible data sharing platform enables collaboration of over 42,000 participating researchers from 198 nations and data generators from over 3,500 institutions across the globe.Since the first wholegenome sequences were made available by China CDC through GISAID on January 10.展开更多
AIM： To determine by brain functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） whether cerebral processing of non-visceral stimuli is altered in irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） patients compared with healthy subjects. To...AIM： To determine by brain functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） whether cerebral processing of non-visceral stimuli is altered in irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） patients compared with healthy subjects. To circumvent spinal viscerosomatic convergence mechanisms, we used auditory stimulation, and to identify a possible influence of psychological factors the stimuli differed in their emotional quality. METHODS： In 8 IBS patients and 8 controls, fMRI measurements were performed using a block design of 4 auditory stimuli of different emotional quality （pleasant sounds of chimes, unpleasant peep （2000 Hz）, neutral words, and emotional words）. A gradient echo T2＊weighted sequence was used for the functional scans. Statistical maps were constructed using the general linear model. RESULTS： To emotional auditory stimuli, IBS patients relative to controls responded with stronger deactivations in a greater variety of emotional processing regions, while the response patterns, unlike in controls, did not differentiate between distressing or pleasant sounds. To neutral auditory stimuli, by contrast, only IBS patients responded with large significant activations. CONCLUSION： Altered cerebral response patterns to auditory stimuli in emotional stimulus-processing regions suggest that altered sensory processing in IBS may not be specific for visceral sensation, but might reflect generalized changes in emotional sensitivity and affectire reactivity, possibly associated with the psychological comorbidity often found in IBS patients.展开更多
AIM: To study ocular axial lengths in pediatric subjects without intraocular pathology. METHODS: An Institutional Review Board-approved consecutive retrospective chart review of axial lengths measured in pediatric sub...AIM: To study ocular axial lengths in pediatric subjects without intraocular pathology. METHODS: An Institutional Review Board-approved consecutive retrospective chart review of axial lengths measured in pediatric subjects who underwent examination under anesthesia due to positive family history of retinoblastoma or other inherited ocular disease. Only subjects without any intraocular pathology in either eye were included. Subjects were stratified into age groups. An axial length model using a logarithmic regression algorithm was calculated.RESULTS: Data from 330 eyes of 165 subjects were included in the study. The mean age at the time of examination was 30.62(SD 18.04)mo. The steepest increase in axial length was present during the first 10 mo of life. After 36 mo, there was no statistically significant axial length growth. CONCLUSION: This study presents the biggest series of pediatric axial lengths in healthy eyes. The axial length model developed with these data may assist in the diagnosis and management of a wide variety of pediatric ophthalmic diseases.展开更多
It was morning,and the new sun sparkled gold across the ripples of a gentle sea.A mile from shore a fishing boat chummed the water and the word for Breakfast Flock flashed through the air,till a crowd of a thousand se...It was morning,and the new sun sparkled gold across the ripples of a gentle sea.A mile from shore a fishing boat chummed the water and the word for Breakfast Flock flashed through the air,till a crowd of a thousand seagulls came to dodge and fight for bits of food.It was another busy day beginning.展开更多
Objective: To screen Vietnamese medicinal plants for xanthine oxidase(XO) inhibitory activity and to isolate XO inhibitor(s) from the most active plant. Methods: The plants materials were extracted by methanol. The ac...Objective: To screen Vietnamese medicinal plants for xanthine oxidase(XO) inhibitory activity and to isolate XO inhibitor(s) from the most active plant. Methods: The plants materials were extracted by methanol. The active plant materials were fractionated using different organic solvents, including n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. Bioassay-guided fractionation and column chromatography were used to isolate compounds. The compounds structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data, including IR, MS, and NMR. Results: Three hundreds and eleven methanol extracts(CME) belonging to 301 Vietnamese herbs were screened for XO inhibitory activity. Among these plants, 57 extracts displayed XO inhibitory activity at 100 μg/m L with inhibition rates of over 50%. The extracts of Archidendron clypearia, Smilax poilanei, Linociera ramiflora and Passiflora foetida exhibited the greatest potency with IC_(50) values below 30 μg/m L. Chemical study performed on the extract of Archidendron clypearia resulted in the isolation of six compounds, including 1-octacosanol, docosenoic acid, daucosterol, methyl gallate, quercitrin and(-)-7-O-galloyltricetiflavan. The compound(-)-7-O-galloyltricetiflavan showed the most potent XO inhibitory activity with an IC_(50) value of 25.5 μmol/L. Conclusions: From this investigation, four Vietnamese medicinal plants were identified to have XO inhibitory effects with IC_(50) values of the methanol extracts below 30 μg/m L. Compound(-)-7-O-galloyltricetiflavan was identified as an XO inhibitor from Archidendron clypearia with IC_(50) value of 25.5 μmol/L.展开更多
Growing evidence suggests that oxidative stress is a major cause of male infertility.Spermatozoa are highly sensitive cells due to the vulnerability of their membrane fatty acids and the diminished antioxidant defense...Growing evidence suggests that oxidative stress is a major cause of male infertility.Spermatozoa are highly sensitive cells due to the vulnerability of their membrane fatty acids and the diminished antioxidant defense.Reactive oxygen species(ROS)impact multiple signaling pathways involved in mitochondrial dysfunction,hormonal unbalance and semen quality decline.The origin of ROS is diverse,including generated normal cellular metabolism,environmental exposure,advanced paternal age and inflammation.Research has indicated that antioxidant supplementation can improve oxidative stress and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.Moreover,it is widely known that antioxidant supplementation can enhance sperm quality and increase the pregnancy rate in couples undergoing fertility treatments.The current study highlights the deleterious effect of ROS and its impact on semen function.In addition,it contributes to the development of a clinical approach for the use of antioxidants in the management of male infertility.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the effects of dietary vitamin C and foods containing vitamin C on gastric cancer risk.METHODS: Our study included 830 control subjects and 415 patients. Data regarding demographics, medical histor...AIM: To investigate the effects of dietary vitamin C and foods containing vitamin C on gastric cancer risk.METHODS: Our study included 830 control subjects and 415 patients. Data regarding demographics, medical history, and lifestyle, including dietary and nutrient intake, were collected using reliable selfadministered questionnaires. Dietary intake information was collected from the participants using a food frequency questionnaire that has been previously reported as reliable and valid. A rapid urease test and a histological evaluation were used to determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection. Twenty-three vitamin C-contributing foods were selected, representing over 80% of the cumulative vitamin C contribution. RESULTS: In analyses adjusted for first-degree family history of gastric cancer, education level, job, household income, smoking status, and regular exercise, an inverseassociation between vitamin C intake and gastric cancer risk was observed for the highest(≥ 120.67 mg/d) vs the lowest(< 80.14 mg/d) intake category [OR(95%CI): 0.64(0.46-0.88)], with a significant trend across the three intake categories(P = 0.007). No protective effect of vitamin C was detected after stratification by gender. No effect of vitamin C intake on the gastric cancer incidence was found in either men or women infected with H. pylori. Vitamin C-contributing foods, including cabbage [0.45(0.32-0.63), 0.50(0.34-0.75), 0.45(0.25-0.81)], strawberries [0.56(0.40-0.78), 0.49(0.32-0.74), 0.52(0.29-0.93)], and bananas [0.40(0.29-0.57), 0.41(0.27-0.62), 0.34(0.19-0.63)], were protective factors against the risk of gastric cancer based on the results of the overall adjusted analyses and the results for men and women, respectively.CONCLUSION: A protective effect of vitamin C and vitamin C-contributing foods against gastric cancer was observed. Further studies using larger sample sizes are required to replicate our results.展开更多
In neonates, persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (PHH) is associated with nesidioblastosis. In adults, PHH is usually caused by solitary benign insulinomas. We report on an adult patient who suffered from insulin...In neonates, persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (PHH) is associated with nesidioblastosis. In adults, PHH is usually caused by solitary benign insulinomas. We report on an adult patient who suffered from insulin-de- pendent diabetes mellitus, and subsequently developed PHH caused by diffuse nesidioblastosis. Mutations of the MEN1 and Mody 2/3 genes were ruled out. Preoperative diagnostic procedures, the histopathological criteria and the surgical treatment options of adult nesidioblastosis are discussed. So far only one similar case of adult nesidioblastosis subsequent to diabetes mellitus Ⅱ has been reported in the literature. In case of conversion of diabetes into hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia syndrome, nesidioblastosis in addition to insulinoma should be con- sidered.展开更多
AIM： To investigate the in vivo effect of atrial natriuretic peptide （ANP） and its signaling pathway during orthotopic rat liver transplantation.METHODS： Rats were infused with NaCI, ANP （5 μg/ kg）, wortmannin ...AIM： To investigate the in vivo effect of atrial natriuretic peptide （ANP） and its signaling pathway during orthotopic rat liver transplantation.METHODS： Rats were infused with NaCI, ANP （5 μg/ kg）, wortmannin （WH, 16μg/kg）, or a combination of both for 20 min. Livers were stored in UW solution （4℃） for 24 h, transplanted and reperfused. Apoptosis was examined by caspase-3 activity and TUNEL staining. Phosphorylation of Akt and Bad was visualized by Western blotting and phospho-Akt-localization by confocal microscopy.RESULTS： ANP-pretreatment decreased caspase-3 activity and TUNELopositive cells after cold ischemia, indicating antiapoptotic effects of ANP in vivo. The an- tiapoptotic signaling of ANP was most likely caused by phosphorylation of Akt and Bad, since pretreatment with PI 3-kinase inhibitor WM abrogated the ANP-induced reduction of caspase-3 activity. Interestingly, analysis of liver tissue by confocal microscopy showed translocation of phosphorylated Akt to the plasma membrane of hepa- tocytes evoked by ANP.CONCLUSION： ANP activates the PI-3-kinase pathway in the liver in vivo leading to phosphorylation of Bad an event triggering antiapoptotic signaling cascade in ischemic liver.展开更多
Organic photovoltaic(OPV)materials are promising candidates for cheap,printable solar cells.However,there are a very large number of potential donors and acceptors,making selection of the best materials difficult.Here...Organic photovoltaic(OPV)materials are promising candidates for cheap,printable solar cells.However,there are a very large number of potential donors and acceptors,making selection of the best materials difficult.Here,we show that machine-learning approaches can leverage computationally expensive DFT calculations to estimate important OPV materials properties quickly and accurately.We generate quantitative relationships between simple and interpretable chemical signature and one-hot descriptors and OPV power conversion efficiency(PCE),open circuit potential(Voc),short circuit density(Jsc),highest occupied molecular orbital(HOMO)energy,lowest unoccupied molecular orbital(LUMO)energy,and the HOMO–LUMO gap.The most robust and predictive models could predict PCE(computed by DFT)with a standard error of±0.5 for percentage PCE for both the training and test set.This model is useful for pre-screening potential donor and acceptor materials for OPV applications,accelerating design of these devices for green energy applications.展开更多
Aquaporin-0 (AQP0) contributes to the nurturing and cleaning of the eye lens of waste products. It is a tetrameric protein composed of four identical monomers, each of which has its own water pore. AQP0 water conducti...Aquaporin-0 (AQP0) contributes to the nurturing and cleaning of the eye lens of waste products. It is a tetrameric protein composed of four identical monomers, each of which has its own water pore. AQP0 water conduction is regulated by pH, Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentration, and the phosphorylation of serine residues at the C-terminal. High cellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentration enhances the binding of Calmodulin (CaM), a Ca<sup>2+</sup> dependent protein, to AQP0 from cytoplasm. This study focuses on determining the differences between the AQP0-CaM and the open AQP0 systems, by using Molecular Dynamics (MD) methods. The water conduction energy profiles are measured with two separate MD simulation techniques revealed two distinct channel profiles for the AQP0-CaM combined model. While the CaM bound channels’ energy barriers exceed the 6 kcal/mol, the no CaM bound AQP0 energy profile stays below 3 kcal/mol. The structural analysis of these different pores during the free equilibrations also supported this conclusion with distinct pore diameters. Unlike the previous report, this study observed Phe75 and His66 taking role in stabilizing the CSII restriction site in CaM bound AQP0.展开更多
In this work, we investigated resistive switching behavior of CrO<sub>x</sub> thin films grown by using sputtering technique. Conventional I-V measurements obtained from Ag/CrO<sub>x</sub>/Pt/T...In this work, we investigated resistive switching behavior of CrO<sub>x</sub> thin films grown by using sputtering technique. Conventional I-V measurements obtained from Ag/CrO<sub>x</sub>/Pt/Ti/SiO<sub>2</sub>/Si structures depict the bipolar switching behavior, which is controlled by formation/dissolution processes of Ag conducting filaments through electrochemical redox reaction under external electric field driven. Conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) technique provides the valuable mapping images of existing Ag filaments at low resistance state as well as the characteristics of filament distributions and diameters. This study also reveals that where the higher amplitude of topography is, the easier possibility of forming conducting filament paths is on CrO<sub>x</sub> surface films.展开更多
文摘This study compared the efficacy of 70- and 120-w 2-μm thulium：YAG VapoEnucleation of the prostate （ThuVEP） for patients with benign prostatic obstruction （BPO）. A prospective analysis of 84 patients with symptomatic BPO and prostatic enlargement （t〉 60 ml） who underwent either 70-w （n=44） or 120-w ThuVEP （n=40） non-randomly was carried out. Patient demographics and perioperative and 12-month follow-up data were analysed. The mean prostate volume was 79.90---27.49 ml in patients who had received 70-w ThuVEP, which was less than in those who had received 120-w ThuVEP （88.53＋-25.10; P=0.033）. The mean enucleation （resected weight/laser time, 2.16±1.21 g min-1 vs. 1.23±0.60 g min-1; P=-0.013）, operation efficiency （resected weight/total operation time, 0.76±0.35 g min-1 vs. 0.42＋-0.27 g min-1; P=-0.000） and percentage of resected tissue （66.93%±22.79% vs. 45.41%±23.33%; P=-0.000） were higher with 120-w treatment compared to 70-w ThuVEP. One patient （1.2% of total patients） （in the 120-w group） required a blood transfusion postoperatively. Sixty-one patients （73%） were available for review at the 12-month follow-up time point. The quality of life （QoL）, International Prostate Symptom Score （IPSS）, maximum urinary flow rate （Qmax）, postvoiding residual urine （PVR） and prostate volume improved significantly after treatment （P≤ 0.035） and were not significantly different between those treated with the different devices （70- and 120-w）. The median prostate volume reduction was 81.70% and 82.19% with 70- and 120-w ThuVEP, respectively. The incidence of complications was low and did not differ between groups treated with the different devices. Two patients （2.4%） （one per group） had a bladder neck contracture at the follow-up. ThuVEP is a safe and efficacious procedure for the treatment of symptomatic BPO. The incidence of complications was low with both devices. The 120-w thulium：YAG device enhances the effectiveness of Th,VE
文摘Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a relapsing and remitting disease characterised by chronic mucosal and submucosal inflammation of the colon and rectum. Treatment may vary depending upon the extent and severity of inflammation. Broadly speaking medical treatments aim to induce and then maintain remission. Surgery is indicated for inflammatory disease that is refractory to medical treatment or in cases of neoplastic transformation. Approximately 25% of patients with UC ultimately require colectomy. Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) has become the standard of care for patients with ulcerative colitis who ultimately require colectomy. This review will examine indications for IPAA, patient selection, technical aspects of surgery, management of complications and long term outcome following this procedure.
文摘GISAID is a global data science initiative and the primary source of genomic and associated metadata of all influenza viruses,Respiratory Syncytial Virus(RSV)and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),the pandemic coronavirus causing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).GISAID’s publicly accessible data sharing platform enables collaboration of over 42,000 participating researchers from 198 nations and data generators from over 3,500 institutions across the globe.Since the first wholegenome sequences were made available by China CDC through GISAID on January 10.
文摘AIM： To determine by brain functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） whether cerebral processing of non-visceral stimuli is altered in irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） patients compared with healthy subjects. To circumvent spinal viscerosomatic convergence mechanisms, we used auditory stimulation, and to identify a possible influence of psychological factors the stimuli differed in their emotional quality. METHODS： In 8 IBS patients and 8 controls, fMRI measurements were performed using a block design of 4 auditory stimuli of different emotional quality （pleasant sounds of chimes, unpleasant peep （2000 Hz）, neutral words, and emotional words）. A gradient echo T2＊weighted sequence was used for the functional scans. Statistical maps were constructed using the general linear model. RESULTS： To emotional auditory stimuli, IBS patients relative to controls responded with stronger deactivations in a greater variety of emotional processing regions, while the response patterns, unlike in controls, did not differentiate between distressing or pleasant sounds. To neutral auditory stimuli, by contrast, only IBS patients responded with large significant activations. CONCLUSION： Altered cerebral response patterns to auditory stimuli in emotional stimulus-processing regions suggest that altered sensory processing in IBS may not be specific for visceral sensation, but might reflect generalized changes in emotional sensitivity and affectire reactivity, possibly associated with the psychological comorbidity often found in IBS patients.
基金Supported by NIH Center Core Grant(P30EY014801),Research to Prevent Blindness Unrestricted Grant,Department of Defense at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
文摘AIM: To study ocular axial lengths in pediatric subjects without intraocular pathology. METHODS: An Institutional Review Board-approved consecutive retrospective chart review of axial lengths measured in pediatric subjects who underwent examination under anesthesia due to positive family history of retinoblastoma or other inherited ocular disease. Only subjects without any intraocular pathology in either eye were included. Subjects were stratified into age groups. An axial length model using a logarithmic regression algorithm was calculated.RESULTS: Data from 330 eyes of 165 subjects were included in the study. The mean age at the time of examination was 30.62(SD 18.04)mo. The steepest increase in axial length was present during the first 10 mo of life. After 36 mo, there was no statistically significant axial length growth. CONCLUSION: This study presents the biggest series of pediatric axial lengths in healthy eyes. The axial length model developed with these data may assist in the diagnosis and management of a wide variety of pediatric ophthalmic diseases.
文摘It was morning,and the new sun sparkled gold across the ripples of a gentle sea.A mile from shore a fishing boat chummed the water and the word for Breakfast Flock flashed through the air,till a crowd of a thousand seagulls came to dodge and fight for bits of food.It was another busy day beginning.
基金funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development(NAFOSTED)under grant number 106.99-2012.90
文摘Objective: To screen Vietnamese medicinal plants for xanthine oxidase(XO) inhibitory activity and to isolate XO inhibitor(s) from the most active plant. Methods: The plants materials were extracted by methanol. The active plant materials were fractionated using different organic solvents, including n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. Bioassay-guided fractionation and column chromatography were used to isolate compounds. The compounds structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data, including IR, MS, and NMR. Results: Three hundreds and eleven methanol extracts(CME) belonging to 301 Vietnamese herbs were screened for XO inhibitory activity. Among these plants, 57 extracts displayed XO inhibitory activity at 100 μg/m L with inhibition rates of over 50%. The extracts of Archidendron clypearia, Smilax poilanei, Linociera ramiflora and Passiflora foetida exhibited the greatest potency with IC_(50) values below 30 μg/m L. Chemical study performed on the extract of Archidendron clypearia resulted in the isolation of six compounds, including 1-octacosanol, docosenoic acid, daucosterol, methyl gallate, quercitrin and(-)-7-O-galloyltricetiflavan. The compound(-)-7-O-galloyltricetiflavan showed the most potent XO inhibitory activity with an IC_(50) value of 25.5 μmol/L. Conclusions: From this investigation, four Vietnamese medicinal plants were identified to have XO inhibitory effects with IC_(50) values of the methanol extracts below 30 μg/m L. Compound(-)-7-O-galloyltricetiflavan was identified as an XO inhibitor from Archidendron clypearia with IC_(50) value of 25.5 μmol/L.
文摘Growing evidence suggests that oxidative stress is a major cause of male infertility.Spermatozoa are highly sensitive cells due to the vulnerability of their membrane fatty acids and the diminished antioxidant defense.Reactive oxygen species(ROS)impact multiple signaling pathways involved in mitochondrial dysfunction,hormonal unbalance and semen quality decline.The origin of ROS is diverse,including generated normal cellular metabolism,environmental exposure,advanced paternal age and inflammation.Research has indicated that antioxidant supplementation can improve oxidative stress and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.Moreover,it is widely known that antioxidant supplementation can enhance sperm quality and increase the pregnancy rate in couples undergoing fertility treatments.The current study highlights the deleterious effect of ROS and its impact on semen function.In addition,it contributes to the development of a clinical approach for the use of antioxidants in the management of male infertility.
文摘AIM: To investigate the effects of dietary vitamin C and foods containing vitamin C on gastric cancer risk.METHODS: Our study included 830 control subjects and 415 patients. Data regarding demographics, medical history, and lifestyle, including dietary and nutrient intake, were collected using reliable selfadministered questionnaires. Dietary intake information was collected from the participants using a food frequency questionnaire that has been previously reported as reliable and valid. A rapid urease test and a histological evaluation were used to determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection. Twenty-three vitamin C-contributing foods were selected, representing over 80% of the cumulative vitamin C contribution. RESULTS: In analyses adjusted for first-degree family history of gastric cancer, education level, job, household income, smoking status, and regular exercise, an inverseassociation between vitamin C intake and gastric cancer risk was observed for the highest(≥ 120.67 mg/d) vs the lowest(< 80.14 mg/d) intake category [OR(95%CI): 0.64(0.46-0.88)], with a significant trend across the three intake categories(P = 0.007). No protective effect of vitamin C was detected after stratification by gender. No effect of vitamin C intake on the gastric cancer incidence was found in either men or women infected with H. pylori. Vitamin C-contributing foods, including cabbage [0.45(0.32-0.63), 0.50(0.34-0.75), 0.45(0.25-0.81)], strawberries [0.56(0.40-0.78), 0.49(0.32-0.74), 0.52(0.29-0.93)], and bananas [0.40(0.29-0.57), 0.41(0.27-0.62), 0.34(0.19-0.63)], were protective factors against the risk of gastric cancer based on the results of the overall adjusted analyses and the results for men and women, respectively.CONCLUSION: A protective effect of vitamin C and vitamin C-contributing foods against gastric cancer was observed. Further studies using larger sample sizes are required to replicate our results.
文摘In neonates, persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (PHH) is associated with nesidioblastosis. In adults, PHH is usually caused by solitary benign insulinomas. We report on an adult patient who suffered from insulin-de- pendent diabetes mellitus, and subsequently developed PHH caused by diffuse nesidioblastosis. Mutations of the MEN1 and Mody 2/3 genes were ruled out. Preoperative diagnostic procedures, the histopathological criteria and the surgical treatment options of adult nesidioblastosis are discussed. So far only one similar case of adult nesidioblastosis subsequent to diabetes mellitus Ⅱ has been reported in the literature. In case of conversion of diabetes into hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia syndrome, nesidioblastosis in addition to insulinoma should be con- sidered.
基金Supported by the DFG(FOR 440/1)the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation(A.K.K).
文摘AIM： To investigate the in vivo effect of atrial natriuretic peptide （ANP） and its signaling pathway during orthotopic rat liver transplantation.METHODS： Rats were infused with NaCI, ANP （5 μg/ kg）, wortmannin （WH, 16μg/kg）, or a combination of both for 20 min. Livers were stored in UW solution （4℃） for 24 h, transplanted and reperfused. Apoptosis was examined by caspase-3 activity and TUNEL staining. Phosphorylation of Akt and Bad was visualized by Western blotting and phospho-Akt-localization by confocal microscopy.RESULTS： ANP-pretreatment decreased caspase-3 activity and TUNELopositive cells after cold ischemia, indicating antiapoptotic effects of ANP in vivo. The an- tiapoptotic signaling of ANP was most likely caused by phosphorylation of Akt and Bad, since pretreatment with PI 3-kinase inhibitor WM abrogated the ANP-induced reduction of caspase-3 activity. Interestingly, analysis of liver tissue by confocal microscopy showed translocation of phosphorylated Akt to the plasma membrane of hepa- tocytes evoked by ANP.CONCLUSION： ANP activates the PI-3-kinase pathway in the liver in vivo leading to phosphorylation of Bad an event triggering antiapoptotic signaling cascade in ischemic liver.
基金This work was supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council(ARC)under the Centre of Excellence scheme(project number CE170100026)This work was also supported by computational resources provided by the Australian Government through the National Computational Infrastructure National Facility and the Pawsey Supercomputer Centre.
文摘Organic photovoltaic(OPV)materials are promising candidates for cheap,printable solar cells.However,there are a very large number of potential donors and acceptors,making selection of the best materials difficult.Here,we show that machine-learning approaches can leverage computationally expensive DFT calculations to estimate important OPV materials properties quickly and accurately.We generate quantitative relationships between simple and interpretable chemical signature and one-hot descriptors and OPV power conversion efficiency(PCE),open circuit potential(Voc),short circuit density(Jsc),highest occupied molecular orbital(HOMO)energy,lowest unoccupied molecular orbital(LUMO)energy,and the HOMO–LUMO gap.The most robust and predictive models could predict PCE(computed by DFT)with a standard error of±0.5 for percentage PCE for both the training and test set.This model is useful for pre-screening potential donor and acceptor materials for OPV applications,accelerating design of these devices for green energy applications.
文摘Aquaporin-0 (AQP0) contributes to the nurturing and cleaning of the eye lens of waste products. It is a tetrameric protein composed of four identical monomers, each of which has its own water pore. AQP0 water conduction is regulated by pH, Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentration, and the phosphorylation of serine residues at the C-terminal. High cellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentration enhances the binding of Calmodulin (CaM), a Ca<sup>2+</sup> dependent protein, to AQP0 from cytoplasm. This study focuses on determining the differences between the AQP0-CaM and the open AQP0 systems, by using Molecular Dynamics (MD) methods. The water conduction energy profiles are measured with two separate MD simulation techniques revealed two distinct channel profiles for the AQP0-CaM combined model. While the CaM bound channels’ energy barriers exceed the 6 kcal/mol, the no CaM bound AQP0 energy profile stays below 3 kcal/mol. The structural analysis of these different pores during the free equilibrations also supported this conclusion with distinct pore diameters. Unlike the previous report, this study observed Phe75 and His66 taking role in stabilizing the CSII restriction site in CaM bound AQP0.
文摘In this work, we investigated resistive switching behavior of CrO<sub>x</sub> thin films grown by using sputtering technique. Conventional I-V measurements obtained from Ag/CrO<sub>x</sub>/Pt/Ti/SiO<sub>2</sub>/Si structures depict the bipolar switching behavior, which is controlled by formation/dissolution processes of Ag conducting filaments through electrochemical redox reaction under external electric field driven. Conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) technique provides the valuable mapping images of existing Ag filaments at low resistance state as well as the characteristics of filament distributions and diameters. This study also reveals that where the higher amplitude of topography is, the easier possibility of forming conducting filament paths is on CrO<sub>x</sub> surface films.
