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OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential mechanism of the effect of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on prostate volume (PV) and the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)/lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and the relationships of MetS and the major pathogenic factors of MetS with the clinical progression of BPH/LUTS in older Chinese men. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We analyzed clinical data obtained from 506 ostensibly healthy men who underwent routine health check-ups and recruited 415 subjects from a group of previously studied men after 4 years. We evaluated the associations of major pathological factors of MetS, including insulin resistance, subclinical inflammatory state, and sex hormone changes, with PV, the risk of BPH and the clinical progression of BPH/LUTS by using multiple linear regression and logistic regression. RESULTS After adjustment for age, insulin, HOMA (homeostatic model assessment) index, leptin, resistin, adiponectin, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), sex hormone-binding globulin, and testosterone levels were significantly associated with PV (all P

A cost-effective design of concrete elements in compliance with sustainability principles requires to accurately predict the behavior of concrete under various loading conditions. Yet to date available approaches for the prediction and evaluation of recycled aggregate concretes (RAC) under triaxial load are very scarce, which may hinder the transition of such an eco-friendly concrete from lab-based technique to widespread applications. As a first attempt to iron out this issue, this study develops some reliable and accurate analytical tools on the basis of an experimental database containing the results of 193 cylindrical peak stress under axisymmetric triaxial load, 55 cubic peak stress under true triaxial load, 76 peak strains and 61 elastic moduli of RAC retrieved from an extensive review of the literature. First, a new empirical design-oriented model is presented refining the generic form of conventional confinement models for natural aggregate concrete while considering the impacts of RCAs. Then Grey Correlation Analysis (GCA) is conducted to look into the sensitivity of the key parameters that affect the triaxial behavior of RAC. The results of the GCA indicate that the triaxial behavior of RAC mainly depends on the effective water-to-cement binder ratio, aggregate-to-cement ratio, lateral stress conditions, exposure temperature, as well as the RCA replacement ratio. Having the input parameters identified by the GCA, three robust data-mining mathematic tools, namely Multiple Nonlinear Regression (MNR), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and hybrid Genetic Algorithm Artificial Neural Network (GA-ANN) are employed to simulate the mechanical performances of RAC under triaxial load. The results demonstrate that the developed MNR equations and the neural network models satisfactorily predict the behavior of RAC under triaxial load; among those models (including the developed design-oriented one), the ANN optimized with GA performs the best. These arguably point to the possibility of the application of those models in the design and evaluation of structural members manufactured using RAC, especially for them under complex loading scenarios.

Total testosterone levels decline with age, while prostate volume and the prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia increase with age. We sought to investigate the correlation of serum testosterone levels with prostate volume in aging men. We analyzed clinical data obtained from 416 ostensibly healthy men who underwent routine health check-ups and recruited and collected data from these subjects 4 years later. We analyzed the correlation between prostate volume and relevant factors, as well as the correlation between changes in prostate volume and low testosterone over a 4-year period. Men with low testosterone had significantly larger prostate volume than those in the normal testosterone group (26.86 ± 8.75 vs. 24.06 ± 6.77 P = 0.02), and subjects with low testosterone had significantly higher levels of obesity-related factors, including waist circumference, body mass index, and insulin (all P P = 0.004), and prostate volume and 4-year changes in prostate volume were associated with low testosterone. With increased testosterone level, prostate volume showed a significant linear decreasing trend. These findings provide evidence of the relationship between testosterone and prostate volume. Additional large studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.

In clinical practice, few prostate cancer (PCa) patients are associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), while few others acquire MetS during treatment. Whether the treatment of PCa increases the occurrence of MetS remains to be confirmed. This study reviewed the changes in MetS patients before and after PCa treatment to evaluate the effects of various treatment methods on MetS. We analyzed data of 1162 PCa patients, whether or not diagnosed with MetS, and changes in MetS patients after PCa treatment. Data of lower urinary tract symptoms, C-reactive protein (CRP), platelet distribution width (PDW), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Gleason score, clinical stage, treatment methods, and progressive incidents were evaluated using logistic regression according to MetS diagnosis. The results showed significant differences in the prevalence of MetS before (17.38%) and after (23.67%) PCa treatment (P

Concrete-filled steel tubular structural members can be recognized as an effective mean to improve the mechanical behavior in terms of strength, stiffness, ductility, and energy dissipation for the initial recycle aggregate concrete deficiencies compared with natural aggregate concrete. A small-scale model of square concrete-filled steel tubular column–reinforced concrete beam frame realized employing 100% recycled coarse aggregates was tested under combined axial loads and cyclic reversed lateral flexure. The failure modes, plastic hinges sequence, hysteresis loop, skeleton curve, stiffness degeneration, energy dissipation capacity, and ductility of the frame were presented and analyzed in detail. The structural behavior of square concrete-filled steel tubular column–reinforced concrete beam frame with 100% recycled coarse aggregates was compared with circular concrete-filled steel tubular column–reinforced concrete beam frame made with 100% recycled coarse aggregates. A fiber-based program model for the nonlinear analysis of concrete-filled steel tubular column–reinforced concrete beam frames incorporating recycled coarse aggregates was developed using SeismoStruct, to highlight the effect of recycled coarse aggregate content on mechanical behavior of recycled aggregate concrete and the confinement effect provided by outer tubes on core concrete. The analysis results show that the numerical model can well simulate and predict the seismic behavior of concrete-filled steel tubular column–reinforced concrete beam frames with 100% recycled coarse aggregate content. Both experimental and numerical results demonstrate that concrete-filled steel tubular column–reinforced concrete beam frames with large content of recycled coarse aggregates have a receivable seismic performance, and it is feasible to apply and popularize recycled aggregate concrete into concrete-filled steel tubular structures in seismic regions.

In this paper, the seismic behavior of L-shaped double-skin composite wall (DSCW) with concrete-filled steel tubes were investigated. The influence of different parameters, i.e., axial compression ratio, shear span-to-depth ratio, corrugation size, corrugated arrangement, flange size and CFST side column were discussed based on cyclic tests. The hysteresis behavior of DSCW specimens in terms of hysteresis curves, skeleton curves and rigidity deterioration were analyzed. The failure mechanism, as well as the composite effect between each component was also compared based on the strain analysis. It was concluded that the L-shaped DSCW has favorable seismic ductility and toughness with the maximum lateral drift angle of 3%. With the increase of axial compression ratio, the peak load of DSCW specimens increased while the post-peak ductility decreased. By contrast, the peak load of DSCW specimens decreased with the increase of shear span-to-depth ratio. More corrugations are effective to increase the seismic behavior of L-shaped DSCW and it was recommended that the corrugations should be arranged vertically. The flange size has limited influence on the failure processes and carrying capacity of DSCW specimens, while the stress distribution was highly dependent on the flange design of DSCW. The application of concrete-filled steel tubes (CFST) side column is effective to increase the seismic behavior of DSCW and also has significant influence on the composite effect between each component.

One of the most important issues that determine many properties are the types of coarse aggregate in recycled concrete. This paper is arming to experimental study the influence of two different types of coarse aggregate (recycled crushed rock aggregate and recycled pebbles aggregate) on the mechanical properties of recycled concrete. The properties of these two types of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) derived from waste concrete were investigated. Using these RCA and corresponding types of natural coarse aggregates, recycled concrete specimens according to different replacement percentage were produced and tested. Finally, Analysis and comparisons of the mechanical properties of RAC, including compressive strength, flexural strength, elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratios etc., were made between these recycled concretes. The results show that different types of RCA have significant variance in mechanical properties. The recycled concrete containing crushed rock aggregate presents a lower relative strength and elastic modulus than that containing pebble aggregate while the toughness of them is contrary. The theoretical expression for stress-strain relationship and equations for the relationships between various strength of recycled concrete with each type of coarse aggregate are also presented.

Efficient apoptosis requires Bcl-2 family-mediated mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP), which releases pro-apoptotic proteins to the cytosol, activating apoptosis and inhibiting X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). XIAP is a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis protein family whose expression is elevated in many cancer types and participates in the release of pro-apoptotic proteins. To explore the association between XIAP and the Bcl-2 family, and the influence of XIAP on mitochondria, RNA interference of XIAP was performed in Caki-1 cells and the dynamic change in the levels of related proteins was compared with the original Caki-1 cells upon induction of apoptosis. Upon knockdown of XIAP, the release of cytochrome c (Cyt-c), second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac) and apoptotic protease activating factor 1 (Apaf-1) from mitochondria proceeded normally, whereas in Caki-1 cells, the release of these pro-apoptotic proteins was significantly prolonged, and incomplete. Downregulation of XIAP through small interfering RNA resulted in an increase of apoptosis and a marked decrease in Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl levels at 3 h. Additionally, the regulation of the level of XIAP protein affected the specific ratios of Bcl-2/Bax and Bcl-xl/Bax, which play decisive roles in cell death. In the present study, it was revealed that XIAP can feed back to mitochondria, delaying Cyt-c and Apaf-1 release. Furthermore, XIAP can limit the release of its inhibitor Smac with the involvement of Bcl-2 family proteins.

This paper focuses on the study of seismic-induced damage assessment of three-dimensional (3D) joints connected with T-shaped steel reinforced concrete (SRC) column-steel beams. Low cyclic reversed loading tests on one planar joint and nine 3D joints were firstly conducted to intensively investigate the seismic behavior of the hybrid joint. The damage index calculation models such as the displacement-based type, energy-based type and displacement & energy-based type were discussed and applied for all the specimens according to the experimental results. In addition, the effects of shape steel configuration type, loading angle and axial compression ratio on the damage development and accumulation for test specimens were analyzed through Park-Ang model. The analysis results show that the selected parameters of damage-index calculation models have great effect on the developing trends of damage curves. Under the same ability of relative deformation, the accumulated damage of the specimens configured with T-shaped steel are much larger than that of the specimens configured with channel-shaped and solid-web steels; moreover, the degree of damage accumulation for the specimens under 30° and 60° loading angles is slightly larger than that of the specimens under 45° loading angle. The specimens subjected to a lower axial force level have a faster damage development, but the damage accumulation is smaller than that of the specimens under a higher axial compression ratio.

This paper presents a critical assessment of the compressive behavior of reinforced recycled aggregate concrete (RRAC) columns. Previous research has demonstrated that recycled aggregate concrete (RAC), manufactured using crushed concrete aggregates obtained from construction and demolition waste, can be a feasible and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional concrete for the use in structural applications. Currently, very limited information is available in the literature about the methods to be used for designing RC elements manufactured with recycled concrete aggregates. With the aim of extending the available experimental data, a fiber section based nonlinear finite element (FE) model was developed so as to provide in-depth insights into the compressive behavior of RRAC columns. First, a comparison between simulation results of the compressive behavior of RRAC columns and available experimental results were made to validate the FE model. Then, using the validated FE model, a parametric study was performed to investigate the effects of different recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) contents, volumetric ratio and yield strength of longitudinal steel reinforcement, and spacing and yield strength of transverse steel reinforcement on the compressive behavior and load capacity of RRAC columns. Finally, based on the limited available experimental database, a grey correlation analysis was used to evaluate the parametric sensitivity of the compressive behavior of RRAC columns. The experimental and numerical investigations demonstrate that the method used for considering the additional water absorption of RCAs in manufacturing RAC has a significant influence on the compressive load capacity of RRAC columns and that the influence of the RCA content on the compressive load capacity of RRAC columns is lower when compared with other important parameters but this effect should not be ignored in modeling the behavior of RRAC columns.

This paper presents a review of experimental tests performed for the characterization of the mechanical behavior of FRP-concrete members realized employing Recycled Aggregate Concrete (RAC). First, with the aim to define confinement effects on RAC, the mechanical behaviors of RAC under triaxial compression is discussed, highlighting the governing variables and their influence on the mechanical response. Different variables such as Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) content, pre-wetting, confinement level, concrete age and RCA source are analyzed and their implication on the main mechanical properties is discussed. Then, the static and cyclic behavior of FRP-confined RAC members is reviewed. Considering the static behavior, columns under concentric compression and eccentric compression are analyzed. Finally, the limited number of results available from the literature are employed to derive a prediction model for the strength of multi-axial stressed and confined RAC by considering the RCA content as the main governing variable. The need for further research is pointed out at the end of the paper.