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• Phospho silicate CsPbBr 3 QD glass was prepared by eutectic method. • Relationship between Al 2 O 3 and SiO 2 and luminescence properties of QDG was studied. • The optimum dosage of SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 in CsPbBr 3 QD glass was determined. • Effect of PSG structure on quantum dots was studied. In this paper, phosphor silicate glass (PSG) containing CsPbBr 3 QDs was prepared by the eutectic method and heat treatment technology. By Using analytical methods including X-ray diffraction, fluorescence testing, and transmission electron microscopy, systematically study the influence of the composition of SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 in the glass matrix on the crystallization and luminescence of QDs, and determine the best raw material composition of CsPbBr 3 QD glass (QDG). The results show that the optimal composition ratio of the raw materials is 80NH 4 H 2 PO 4 - 15SiO 2 - 6SrCO 3 - 3.4Al 2 O 3 - 15Cs 2 CO 3 - 7.5PbBr 2 - 15KBr. The CsPbBr 3 QDG made with this raw material composition has the best luminescence performance, which can produce a strong emission peak at 512 nm under the excitation of 390 nm violet light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are associated with development and progression of multiple myeloma (MM). However, the role and mechanism of circ_0005615 in MM have not been elucidated. Circ_0005615 was determined by GEO database. quantitative RT-PCR was performed to confirm the expression of circ_0005615 in peripheral blood of MM patients and MM cells. The roles of circ_0005615 in MM were analyzed using CCK8, transwell invasion, cell apoptosis and tumor xenograft experiments. Bioinformatics tools, RIP and RNA pull down assays were conducted to explore the downstream of circ_0005615. Furthermore, the mechanism was investigated by quantitative RT-PCR, western blot, dot blot and meRIP-PCR assays. Circ_0005615 was upregulated in MM. Overexpression of circ_0005615 promoted cell viability and invasion, and suppressed apoptosis in vitro , which were opposite when circ_0005615 was knockdowned. Mechanistically, EIF4A3, a RNA-binding protein (RBP), could directly bind to circ_0005615 and ALKBH5, where ALKBH5 could directly combine with MAP3K4, forming a circ_0005615- EIF4A3-ALKBH5-MAP3K4 module. Furthermore, circ_0005615 overexpression increased m6A methylation of MAP3K4 by inhibiting ALKBH5, leading to decreased MAP3K4. Further functional experiments indicated that ALKBH5 overexpression weakened the promoting roles of circ_0005615 overexpression in MAP3K4 m6A methylation and tumor progression in MM. The above functions and mechanism were also verified in vivo. Elevated circ_0005615 decreased MAP3K4 mediated by ALKBH5 through interacting with EIF4A3, thereby accelerating MM progression. Circ_0005615 might be a promising biomarker and target of MM. • Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are associated with development and progression of multiple myeloma (MM). • Circ 0005615 promotes MM progression by binding to RNA-binding proteins. • Circ_0005615 might be a promising biomarker and target of MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Web shear buckling of composite girders in negative-moment regions is studied. • A 3D nonlinear finite element prediction model is developed and validated. • Top flange and slab together provide fixed boundary condition on one edge for web. • A new formula for web shear-buckling coefficients of composite girders is proposed. Steel–concrete composite girder webs used to connect flanges in bridges are generally slender, which introduces stability problems. The assumption in existing codes that the web is simply supported on four sides is excessively conservative and unreasonable. In this study, web shear buckling of steel–concrete composite girders in negative-moment regions were experimentally and numerically investigated. The failure modes, shear-buckling loads, and ultimate loads of the specimens were analysed. Based on the surface strain and out-of-plane deflection of the web, the web shear-buckling load was determined and compared with the theoretical results. A three-dimensional non-linear finite element model is developed and validated based on the experimental results. Using the validated numerical model, the elastic shear-buckling behaviour of the webs of composite girders under actual boundary conditions were investigated. The numerical results showed that the boundary conditions of the composite girder web can be regarded as simply supported on two opposite edges, fixed on one edge, and restrained by the bottom flange on one edge. A formula for calculating the web shear-buckling coefficient of composite girders was proposed based on the numerical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, SrAl 2 O 4 :Eu2+, Dy3+ hollow microsphere is successful synthesized via a newly developed sol-gel synthetic method combined with the self-transformation process of chemical induction. In this approach, researchers are able to get this gel in seconds, and after it is immersed in the isopropanol at the temperature of 60 °C, the SrAl 2 O 4 :Eu2+, Dy3+ hollow microsphere precursors can be synthesized through the self-transformation of chemical induction. The outer surface of SrAl 2 O 4 :Eu2+, Dy3+ hollow precursors (diameter in 1–2 μm) is similar to sea urchins, which consists of randomly clustered and interconnected nanoplatelets. SrAl 2 O 4 :Eu2+, Dy3+ hollow microsphere phosphors can be synthesized by calcining SrAl 2 O 4 :Eu2+, Dy3+ hollow microsphere precursors at an appropriate temperature. The optimum calcination temperature of the SrAl 2 O 4 :Eu2+, Dy3+ hollow microsphere phosphors is 1050 °C, which have a well hollow-core construction and sea urchin-like outer surface. The photoluminescence spectra and luminance decay analysis indicate that the SrAl 2 O 4 :Eu2+, Dy3+ hollow microsphere phosphors have satisfactory persistent phosphorescence. The specific surface area, mean diameter of pores, as well as pore volume of the sample heated at 1050 °C are 139.52 m2/g, 1.29 cm3/g and 37.08 nm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objects: To evaluate prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of primary squamous cell carcinoma in thyroid (PSCCTh) over the past decades using a large national database. Methods: All patients diagnosed with PSCCTh between 1973 and 2015 were identified with the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) 18-registry database. Relevant clinical data were collected, and prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were analyzed. Results: This cohort study included 242 patients, accounting for 0.12% of all primary thyroid carcinomas from 1973 to 2015 nationwide. Of the patients with PSCCTh, 75% were older than 60 years at diagnosis. Patient age older than 60 years (HR 2.242, 95% CI 1.367–3.676, P = 0.001) and a tumor size larger than or equal to 50 mm (HR 1.479, 95% CI 1.011–2.165, P = 0.044) were independent negative prognostic factors. The univariate analysis suggested that the morphological subtype (OS, P = 0.033; DSS, P = 0.048), clinical treatment modality (OS, P < 0.0001; DSS, P < 0.0001), and T stage (OS, P = 0.004; DSS, P = 0.001) were important predictive factors for OS and DSS. In contrast, gender, race, year of diagnosis, geographic location, N stage, and M stage were not prognostic factors. Conclusions: PSCCTh is a rare malignancy with an aggressive nature and poor prognosis. Survival is predicted by the treatment modality, patient age, T stage, tumor size, and morphological subtypes. This study showed that early diagnosis and complete surgical resection plus adjuvant radiation therapy were associated with a better outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract It is known that the seepage force has a significant impact on the mobility of bed particles. To assess the effect of seepage force on the sediment transport around a suspended pipeline, a series of numerical tests have been carried out utilising the commercial software Comsol. In the simulation, the shear-stress transport turbulence model was used to simulate the upper turbulence flow field and the porous medium model was adopted to describe the dynamic response of the underlying seabed. Both the fluid flow and the seepage flow within the seabed were modelled. The effect of the vertical seepage force on the Shields number was investigated. The simulation results indicate that seepage plays a vital role in the process of tunnel scour, but becomes quite weak with the form of a scour hole beneath the pipeline. With an increase in scour depth, vortices shed from the pipe lead to a fluctuating fluid pressure, inducing significant upward seepage, and thus influencing the stability of bed particles. If sagging of the pipeline appears, the fluctuation of fluid pressure becomes weak and the seepage effect is minor. Highlights • The seepage effect on the Shields number is studied through numerical simulation. • The vortex shed onto the seabed can induce upward seepage flow due to the negative pressure inside it, which will promote the sediments scour. • Study seepage effect on shields number around fixed and sagging pipeline by coupling numerical simulations with experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local scour around pile foundations is a major factor affecting the foundation stability in ocean engineering. A series of experiments has been conducted to study the time development of scour around pile groups under the unidirectional and tidal currents. 49 cylindrical model piles were arranged in a typical dumbbell-shaped configuration, and 20 micro-cameras as well as a 3D laser scanner were used to capture the local scour topography. In the unidirectional current test, the scour pit was spoon-shaped, and the maximum scour depth was located in the central part of upstream pile group. In the tidal tests, two similar shallow scour pits existed in the upstream and downstream pile group. During the initial stage of tide-induced local scour, the increase of scour depth was similar to that under unidirectional current. But, the repetitive scour and backfill process led to obvious fluctuations of scour depth, especially for the piles at the rear of upstream pile group and in the front of downstream pile group. It was found that the tidal cycle number had obvious effect on the scour depth development. The final scour depth after sufficient tidal cycles could reach up to 77.1% of the maximum scour depth under unidirectional current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This is the first report on the potential therapeutic effect of plantamajoside on osteoarthritis. • In vitro analyses, plantamajoside inhibits NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-B) and MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling pathways, promoting chondrocyte repair. • In-vivo study demonstrated that plantamajoside could ameliorate progression in the mouse osteoarthritis model. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative bone and joint disorder characterized by progressive cartilage degeneration and secondary synovial inflammation. It is a common chronic joint disorder that affects people of all ages (especially the old). Plantamajoside is a phenylpropanoside derived from plantain. It has a variety of biological properties, including antioxidant, anti-malignant cell proliferation, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, the latent mechanism of plantamajoside was explored by slowing the in-vivo and in-vitro progression of osteoarthritis. The results revealed that plantamajoside pre-conditioning inhibited IL-1β induced pro-inflammatory factors like COX-2, iNOS, IL-6, and TNF-α. Moreover, plantamajoside also reversed the IL-1 β mediated type II collagen and aggrecan degradation within the extracellular matrix (ECM). The protective effects of plantamajoside have been attributed to the inhibition of both MAPK and NF-κB pathways. Furthermore, our in-vivo research found that plantamajoside could slow the progression of OA in mice. Finally, all findings point to plantamajoside as a potential anti-OA therapeutic candidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This work further extends metal chalcogenides to the electrochromic field. • CdS modified WO 3 film (WO 3 /CdS) achieves reversible multi-color conversion. • WO 3 /CdS has the larger transmittance modulation and coloration efficiency. • CdS exhibits a negative effect on the electrochromic stability of WO 3 /CdS film. The influence of CdS quantum dots on the electrochromic performance of WO 3 film in Li+-based electrolyte has been systematically investigated. During the electrochromic process, CdS-modified WO 3 (WO 3 /CdS) film is endowed with reversible multi-color conversion performance, yellow (initial state) - green (-0.9 V) - black (-1.7 V) - brown (-0.4 V). Additionally, compared with pure WO 3 film, the WO 3 /CdS film exhibits a larger transmittance modulation of 79.4% at 640 nm, a higher coloration efficiency of 33.2 cm2 C−1, and the coloring and bleaching times of 19.2 s and 27.1 s. In addition, the porous WO 3 substrate greatly decreases the charge transfer resistance of CdS film interface, which enables Li+ to be rapidly inserted/extracted into the CdS lattices. This study provides a new electrochromic material for improving electrochromic performance and puts forward a unique idea to explore the electrochromic function of metal chalcogenide. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As important primary food crops, sweet potatoes have rich nutritional values. Baking with a single oven is a common method for processing sweet potatoes. Since the single oven has some adverse effects on the product quality, radio frequency (RF) energy as a new heating technology was explored in combined baking with the traditional oven. Effects of single oven baking and combined RF and oven baking (RF-O) on baking time and product quality for cylindrical sweet potatoes were compared. Effects of electrode gap and sample diameter on RF heating rate and uniformity were also studied before comparing the baking characteristics between single oven and RF-O methods. Results showed that the best RF heating uniformity and acceptable heating time were obtained at an electrode gap of 90 mm and a sample diameter of 55 mm. The total baking time of 35.9 min for the single oven method was substantially reduced to 25.1 min for the RF-O method. Meanwhile, the sweet potato baked by RF-O had better color, or texture values, lower weight loss and lower acrylamide content than the single oven baking. Therefore, RF-O could be recommended as an effective, uniform, and high-quality baking method for sweet potatoes. • Single oven baking and radio frequency (RF) heating combined with oven baking (RF-O) were compared. • Baking time and product quality of sweet potato were evaluated under these two baking methods. • Effects of electrode gaps and sample diameters on RF heating rate and uniformity were determined. • Total baking time of 35.9 min using oven method was reduced to 25.1 min with RF-O method. • RF-O baked sample had better quality than the single oven baked one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high-quality cathode material is of important value to the research of bifunctional electrochromic energy storage device. Therefore, Nb-doped TiO 2 mesoporous film as the high-performance cathode was prepared via a facile sol-gel technology successfully. The Nb doping content has great effects on the crystallinity and chemical state of TiO 2 films. Compared to the pure TiO 2 film, the optimum Nb-doped TiO 2 film exhibits the excellent optical-electrochemical performance including highest large-rate capability, largest specific capacity (62.4 mAh/g), short switching time (3.4 s/4.5 s) and large transmittance modulation (50.7%). These data indicate that Nb-doped TiO 2 mesoporous films possess the important application prospect. • Nb-doped TiO 2 mesoporous film was prepared via a facile sol-gel technology. • Nb doping content has great effects on the film crystallinity and chemical state. • The film exhibited the excellent optical-electrochemical performance. • The film shown largest specific capacity and short switching time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, nano-photocatalysts (NPs) have become the research focus in the field of photocatalysis due to their excellent photocatalytic activity, and microemulsion is an effective method to prepare high-efficiency nano-photocatalysts. Here, BiVO 4 NPs with high efficiency under visible light were prepared by a combination of reverse microemulsion method and calcination method. XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, DRS, PL, BET and other characterization tests were used to comprehensively explore the influence of water-oil ratio on the physicochemical properties of the catalysts. The results show that BiVO 4 NPs of monoclinic scheelite with high crystallization degree can be obtained by this method. The microscopic morphology, specific surface area and total pore volume of BiVO 4 NPs are significantly affected by the water-oil ratio. It is difficult to obtain BiVO 4 NPs with small particle size and uniform dispersion under the condition of too low or too high water-oil ratio. Meanwhile, the photogenerated carrier recombination efficiency of the catalyst is significantly improved, thus reducing the photocatalytic activity of the catalyst. Strikingly, the BiVO 4 NPs obtained under the condition of water-oil ratio is 20 exhibited well-dispersed nanospheres with diameters ranging from 80 to 100 nm. It has the highest photocatalytic activity due to its high crystallinity, large specific surface area and total pore volume and relatively low photogenerated carrier recombination efficiency. Under visible light irradiation, the degradation efficiency of RhB can reach 97.69% in 100 min, and the rate constant is 0.03253 min−1. [Display omitted] • Small-size BiVO 4 catalysts were prepared by the inverse microemulsion - calcination method. • The water-oil ratio have an important impact on the structural properties of the samples. • Catalyst has the highest activity when water-oil ratio is 20. • The degradation ratio and the rate constant of RhB reach to 97.69% and 0.03253 min−1 in 100 min severally. • Because having small size structure, the largest specific surface area and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving radio frequency (RF) heating uniformity is a key to obtain a good pasteurization effect while maintaining the quality of food product. The objective of this study was for providing a new method to improve the RF heating uniformity by adding aluminum foil sheets around the container walls. A 27.12 MHz, 6 kW pilot-scale RF system at an electrode gap of 110 mm was used to evaluate the heating rate and temperature distribution of wheat kernels in a rectangular container with the location, size and thickness of the foil sheet. The results showed that the RF heating behavior was influenced by foil sheets added at different oriented walls of the container. A cold spot area appeared in the place closed to the foil sheet wall at the vertically oriented addition, while a cold spot in the center and hot spots in the corners and edges still existed with the horizontally oriented addition of the sheet. The presence of foil sheet had an influence on the voltage, power input and energy efficiency. Effect of different foil sheet wall on heating behavior of samples was related to the reflection of foil sheet to RF electromagnetic wave. The heating uniformity index (λ) value decreased when the foil sheet was placed at the container bottom wall, and with increasing foil sheet size and thickness. A clearly improved RF heating uniformity can be obtained by increasing foil sheet size and thickness at the container bottom wall. • Adding aluminum foil sheets on container walls may improve RF heating uniformity. • Effects of location, size and thickness of foil sheets were evaluated on RF heating behavior. • Heating uniformity index decreased with increasing foil sheet size and thickness. • Providing better RF heating uniformity is helpful to develop effective pasteurizing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have demonstrated considerable potential in the treatment of ischemic bone diseases, such as glucocorticoid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GIONFH). However, the clinical application of EVs faces challenges such as low yield, poor bioactivity, and lack of targeting. Herein, we have developed a platform of multiengineered extracellular vesicle mimetics (EVMs) to address these challenges. By stimulating mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with multibioactive ions from TS (Trisilicate, a mixture of calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, and strontium silicate), we obtained endogenously modified TS-MSCs. From these, we further prepared a large quantity of bioactive EVM TS-MSCs through a straightforward extrusion method. Moreover, by integrating metabolic glycoengineering with click chemistry strategies, alendronate (ALN) was surface-modified on EVM TS-MSCs to further prepare ALN-EVM TS-MSCs . The engineered ALN-EVM TS-MSCs demonstrated bone-targeting effects, promoting osteogenesis and angiogenesis. This promoting effect is attributed to the rich presence of miR-21 in the TS-modified EVM, which further silences PTEN to activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby enhancing osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Our treatment strategy for ischemic bone diseases is based on a multiengineered, biomaterial-inspired, metabolic glycoengineering, and click chemistry-based platform of EVM. This study also provides an enhanced understanding of the development and application of engineered vesicles in disease treatment.

Tendon injuries are pervasive orthopedic injuries encountered by the general population. Nonetheless, recovery after severe injuries, such as Achilles tendon injury, is limited. Consequently, there is a pressing need to devise interventions, including biomaterials, that foster tendon healing. Regrettably, tissue engineering treatments have faced obstacles in crafting appropriate tissue scaffolds and efficacious nanomedical approaches. To surmount these hurdles, an innovative injectable hydrogel (CP@SiO 2 ), comprising puerarin and chitosan through in situ self-assembly, is pioneered while concurrently delivering mesoporous silica nanoparticles for tendon healing. In this research, CP@SiO 2 hydrogel is employed for the treatment of Achilles tendon injuries, conducting extensive in vivo and in vitro experiments to evaluate its efficacy. This reults demonstrates that CP@SiO 2 hydrogel enhances the proliferation and differentiation of tendon-derived stem cells, and mitigates inflammation through the modulation of macrophage polarization. Furthermore, using histological and behavioral analyses, it is found that CP@SiO 2 hydrogel can improve the histological and biomechanical properties of injured tendons. This findings indicate that this multifaceted injectable CP@SiO 2 hydrogel constitutes a suitable bioactive material for tendon repair and presents a promising new strategy for the clinical management of tendon injuries., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Ischemic osteonecrosis, particularly glucocorticoid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GIONFH), is primarily due to the dysfunction of osteogenesis and angiogenesis. miRNA, as a therapeutic system with immense potential, plays a vital role in the treatment of various diseases. However, due to the unique microenvironmental structure of bone tissue, especially in the case of GIONFH, where there is a deficiency in the vascular system, it is challenging to effectively target and deliver to the ischemic osteonecrosis area. A drug delivery system assisted by genetically engineered cell membranes holds promise in addressing the challenge of targeted miRNA delivery. Herein, we leverage the potential of miR-21 in modulating osteogenesis and angiogenesis to design an innovative biomimetic nanoplatform system. First, we employed metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as the core structure to load miR-21-m (miR-21-m@MOF). The nanoparticles were further coated with the membrane of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing CXCR4 (CM-miR-21-m@MOF), enhancing their ability to target ischemic bone areas via the CXCR4-SDF1 axis. These biomimetic nanocomposites possess both bone-targeting and ischemia-guiding capabilities, actively targeting GIONFH lesions to release miR-21-m into target cells, thereby silencing PTEN gene and activating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway to regulate osteogenesis and angiogenesis. This innovative miRNA delivery system provides a promising therapeutic avenue for GIONFH and potentially other related ischemic bone diseases. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE., Competing Interests: Declaration competing of interests The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head caused by glucocorticoids (GIONFH) is a significant issue resulting from prolonged or excessive clinical glucocorticoid use. Astaxanthin, an orange-red carotenoid present in marine organisms, has been the focus of this study to explore its impact and mechanism on osteoblast apoptosis induced by dexamethasone (Dex) and GIONFH., Methods: In this experiment, bioinformatic prediction, molecular docking and dynamics simulation, cytotoxicity assay, osteogenic differentiation, qRT-PCR analysis, terminal uridine nickend labeling (TUNEL) assay, determination of intracellular ROS, mitochondrial function assay, immunofluorescence, GIONFH rat model construction, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans were performed., Results: Our research demonstrated that a low dose of astaxanthin was non-toxic to healthy osteoblasts and restored the osteogenic function of Dex-treated osteoblasts by reducing oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. Furthermore, astaxanthin rescued the dysfunction in poor bone quality, bone metabolism and angiogenesis of GIONFH rats. The mechanism behind this involves astaxanthin counteracting Dex-induced osteogenic damage by activating the Nrf2 pathway., Conclusion: Astaxanthin shields osteoblasts from glucocorticoid-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction via Nrf2 pathway activation, making it a potential therapeutic agent for GIONFH treatment., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Object: A novel technique, percutaneous elastic stable intramedullary nail fixation (ESIN), proposed by our team for the treatment of anterior pelvic ring injury. Finite element analysis and retrospective case-control study were used to compare biomechanical properties and clinical outcomes between ESIN and other techniques., Methods: Four groups of finite element models of pelvic anterior ring injury were simulated, including ESIN (model A), retrograde transpubic screw fixation (RTSF, model B), subcutaneous internal fixator (model C), and external fixator (model D), and a vertical downward load of 500 N was applied to the S1 vertebral endplate. Stress and displacement distributions of intact pelvis, displacement distributions of pubic fracture fragments, and stress distributions of fixation devices were analysed. Then 31 patients with anterior pelvic ring injury (15 in the ESIN group and 16 in the RTSF group) were reviewed. Clinical outcomes were evaluated at the final follow-up. Postoperative complications were also recorded., Results: Under 500N loading, the intact stability of the pelvis was compared as follows: model B (20.58 mm, 121.82 MPa), model A (20.80 mm, 129.97 MPa), model C (22.02 mm, 141.70 MPa), and model D (22.57 mm, 147.06 MPa). The regional stability of superior pubic ramus was compared as follows: model B (9.48 mm), model A (10.16 mm), model C (10.52 mm), and model D (10.76 mm). All 31 patients received follow-up at least 12 months postsurgery (range 12-20 months). Age, sex, injury mechanism, fracture type, time between the injury and operation, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, follow-up period, time to union, and Majeed scores did not differ significantly between the two groups ( P >0.05). However, the differences in the duration of unilateral surgery, unilateral intraoperative fluoroscopy and one-time success rate were significant ( P <0.05)., Conclusions: With sufficient biomechanical stability and minimally invasive advantage, the percutaneous technique using ESIN can be used to successfully treat anterior pelvic ring injuries. In addition, advantages over RTSF include a shorter duration of surgery, reduced requirement for intraoperative fluoroscopy, and a higher one-time success rate. ESIN therefore constitutes a good alternative to RTSF., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

The construction of hybrid heterojunction photocatalysts is an effective strategy to improve the utilization of photogenerated carriers and photocatalytic activity. To enhance the separation distance of photogenerated carriers and accelerate the effective separation at the heterojunction of the interface, a unique 0D-2D hierarchical nanostructured p-n heterojunction was successfully fabricated in this work. BiOCl (BOC) nanosheets (p-type) were in situ grown on BiVO 4 (BVO) nanoparticles (n-type) using the microemulsion-calcination method for highly efficient visible-light-driven organic dye degradation. Compared with pure BVO (the degradation rate of rhodamine B (RhB): about 32.0% in 55 min, the mineralization rate: 24.9% in 120 min), the RhB degradation rate can reach about 99.5% in 55 min and the mineralization rate of 62.1% in 120 min by utilizing BVO/25%BOC heterojunction photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. Various characterizations demonstrate that the formation of BVO/BOC p-n heterojunction greatly facilitates photogenerated carriers separation efficiency. Meanwhile, the results of the scavenging experiments and electron spin resonance tests indicate that ·O 2 - and h + are the prominent active species for Rh B degradation. In addition, possible degradation pathways for Rh B were proposed using LC-MS tests. This work proves that building low dimensional p-n heterojunction photocatalysts is a promising strategy for developing photocatalysts with high efficiency., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Glucocorticoid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GIONFH) represents a predominant etiology of non-traumatic osteonecrosis, imposing substantial pain, restricting hip mobility, and diminishing overall quality of life for affected individuals. Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. (CA), an herbal remedy deeply rooted in traditional oriental medicine, has exhibited noteworthy therapeutic efficacy in addressing inflammation and facilitating wound healing. Drawing from CA's historical applications, its anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant attributes may hold promise for managing GIONFH. Asiatic acid (AA), a primary constituent of CA, has been substantiated as a key contributor to its anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capabilities, showcasing a close association with orthopedic conditions. For the investigation of whether AA could alleviate GIONFH through suppressing oxidative stress, apoptosis, and to delve into its potential cellular and molecular mechanisms, the connection between AA and disease was analyzed through network pharmacology. DEX-induced apoptosis in rat osteoblasts and GIONFH in rat models, got utilized for the verification in vitro/vivo, on underlying mechanism of AA in GIONFH. Network pharmacology analysis reveals a robust correlation between AA and GIONFH in multiple target genes. AA has demonstrated the inhibition of DEX-induced osteoblast apoptosis by modulating apoptotic factors like BAX, BCL-2, Cleaved-caspase3, and cleaved-caspase9. Furthermore, it effectively diminishes the ROS overexpression and regulates oxidative stress through mitochondrial pathway. Mechanistic insights suggest that AA's therapeutic effects involve phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway activation. Additionally, AA has exhibited its potential to ameliorate GIONFH progression in rat models. Our findings revealed that AA mitigated DEX-induced osteoblast apoptosis and oxidative stress through triggering PI3K/AKT pathway. Also, AA can effectively thwart GIONFH occurrence and development in rats., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Prolonged use of glucocorticoids (GCs) potentially lead to a condition known as GCs-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GIONFH). The primary mechanisms underlying this phenomenon lies in stem cells and endothelial cells dysfunctions. Morroniside, an iridoid glycoside sourced from Cornus officinalis, possesses numerous biological capabilities, including combating oxidative stress, preventing apoptosis, opposing ischemic effects, and promoting the regeneration of bone tissue., Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the impact of Morroniside on Dexamethasone (DEX)-induced dysfunction in stem cells and endothelial cells, and its potential as a therapeutic agent for GIONFH in rat models., Methods: ROS assay, JC-1 assay, and TUNEL assay were used to detect oxidative stress and apoptosis levels in vitro. For the evaluation of the osteogenic capability of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, we employed ALP and ARS staining. Additionally, the angiogenic ability of endothelial cells was assessed using tube formation assay and migration assay. Microcomputed tomography analysis, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and immunohistochemical staining were utilized to evaluate the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of Morroniside., Results: Morroniside mitigates DEX-induced excessive ROS expression and cell apoptosis, effectively reducing oxidative stress and alleviating cell death. In terms of osteogenesis, Morroniside reverses DEX-induced osteogenic impairment, as evidenced by enhanced ALP and ARS staining, as well as increased osteogenic protein expression. In angiogenesis, Morroniside counteracts DEX-induced vascular dysfunction, demonstrated by an increase in tube-like structures in tube formation assays, a rise in the number of migrating cells, and elevated levels of angiogenic proteins. In vivo, our results further indicate that Morroniside alleviates the progression of GIONFH., Conclusion: The experimental findings suggest that Morroniside concurrently mitigates stem cell and endothelial cell dysfunction through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway both in vitro and in vivo. These outcomes suggest that Morroniside serves as a potential therapeutic agent for GIONFH., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 90% of renal cancers, of which clear cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most usual histological type. The process of alternative splicing (AS) contributes to protein diversity, and the dysregulation of protein diversity may have a great influence on tumorigenesis. We developed a prognostic signature and comprehensively analyzed the role of tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and immune checkpoint blocking (ICB) treatment in ccRCC., Methods: To identify prognosis-related AS events, univariate Cox regression was used and functional annotation was performed using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). In this study, prognostic signatures were developed based on multivariate Cox, univariate Cox, and LASSO regression models. Moreover, to assess the prognostic value, the proportional hazards model, Kruskal-Wallis analysis, and ROC curves were used. To obtain a better understanding of TIME in ccRCC, the ESTIMATE R package, single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm, CIBERSORT method, and the tumor immune estimation resource (TIMER) were applied. The database was searched to verify the expression of C4OF19 in tumor and normal samples. Regulatory networks for AS-splicing factors (SFs) were visualized using Cytoscape 3.9.1., Results: There were 9,347 AS cases associated with the survival of ccRCC patients screened. A total of eight AS prognostic signatures were developed with stable prognostic predictive accuracy based on splicing subtypes. In addition, a qualitative prognostic nomogram was developed, and the prognostic prediction showed high effectiveness. In addition, we found that the combined signature was significantly associated with the diversity of TIME and ICB treatment-related genes. C4ORF19 might become an important prognostic factor for ccRCC. Finally, the AS-SF regulatory network was established to clearly reveal the potential function of SFs., Conclusion: We found novel and robust indicators (i.e., risk signature, prognostic nomogram, etc.) for the prognostic prediction of ccRCC. A new and reliable prognostic nomogram was established to quantitatively predict the clinical outcome. The AS-SF networks could provide a new way for the study of potential regulatory mechanisms, and the important roles of AS events in the context of TIME and immunotherapy efficiency were exhibited. C4ORF19 was found to be a vital gene in TIME and ICB treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhang, Jiang, Rao and Jin.)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage degradation and inflammation. In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived exosomes (MSCs-Exo) have attracted widespread attention for their potential role in modulating OA pathology. However, the unpredictable therapeutic effects of exosomes have been a significant barrier to their extensive clinical application. In this study, we investigated whether fucoidan-pretreated MSC-derived exosomes (F-MSCs-Exo) could better protect chondrocytes in osteoarthritic joints and elucidate its underlying mechanisms. In order to evaluate the role of F-MSCs-Exo in osteoarthritis, both in vitro and in vivo studies were conducted. MiRNA sequencing was employed to analyze MSCs-Exo and F-MSCs-Exo, enabling the identification of differentially expressed genes and the exploration of the underlying mechanisms behind the protective effects of F-MSCs-Exo in osteoarthritis. Compared to MSCs-Exo, F-MSCs-Exo demonstrated superior effectiveness in inhibiting inflammatory responses and extracellular matrix degradation in rat chondrocytes. Moreover, F-MSCs-Exo exhibited enhanced activation of autophagy in chondrocytes. MiRNA sequencing of both MSCs-Exo and F-MSCs-Exo revealed that miR-146b-5p emerged as a promising candidate mediator for the chondroprotective function of F-MSCs-Exo, with TRAF6 identified as its downstream target. In conclusion, our research results demonstrate that miR-146b-5p encapsulated in F-MSCs-Exo effectively inhibits TRAF6 activation, thereby suppressing inflammatory responses and extracellular matrix degradation, while promoting chondrocyte autophagy for the protection of osteoarthritic cartilage cells. Consequently, the development of a therapeutic approach combining fucoidan with MSC-derived exosomes provides a promising strategy for the clinical treatment of osteoarthritis., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a malignant tumor of the urinary system. CircABCC4 has been demonstrated to promote the development of PCa; however, its regulatory mechanisms in PCa progression remain largely unknown. We found that circABCC4 was highly expressed in PCa tissues and cells, and elevated circABCC4 level indicated a poor overall survival of PCa patients. METTL3 overexpression increased circABCC4 expression via m6A modification in PCa cells. Functionally, knockdown of circABCC4 or METTL3 repressed PCa cell stemness, migration, and invasion in vitro and delayed PCa cancer growth and metastasis in vivo. circABCC4 knockdown-mediated inhibition in PCa cell stemness and metastasis could be counteracted by overexpression of wild-type circABCC4 with m6A sites. Mechanistically, circABCC4 recruited IGF2BP2 protein to CCAR1 mRNA, thereby enhancing CCAR1 mRNA stability and subsequent activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Overexpression of CCAR1 counteracted the inhibitory effect of circABCC4 silencing on PCa cell stemness and metastasis. These results revealed that m6A-modified circABCC4 by METTL3 facilitated PCa cell stemness and metastasis by interacting with IGF2BP2 to increase the stability and expression of CCAR and subsequent expression of Wnt/β-catenin target genes. Our findings suggest circABCC4 as a promising therapeutic target for PCa., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)

Oxygen vacancies (V O ), acting as electron traps, have a significant impact on the persistent luminescence (PersL) property of persistent phosphors. However, the effect of V O on PersL remains still unclear enough to limit the development of PersL materials. In this study, the V O concentration of the Y 2.978 Ce 0.018 Yb 0.004 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 phosphor is accurately controlled by annealing in air and 10%H 2 /90%Ar atmospheres at various temperatures. The results show as the annealing temperature increases during the air annealing the V O concentration, the PersL durations, and the thermoluminescence (TL) intensity constantly decreases, and the three data coincide well with each other, indicating the PersL property of the Y 2.978 Ce 0.018 Yb 0.004 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 is successfully tuned. Besides, the trap structure of the Y 2.978 Ce 0.018 Yb 0.004 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 and the charge compensation effect of Yb ions on V O defects are also discussed. By deconvoluting the TL curves, the Yb trap with a depth of 0.58 eV has been distinctly separated from the V O traps with a quasi-continuous and broad distribution of depths ranging from 0.58 to 1.21 eV. Our work demonstrates a better understanding of the relationship between V O and PersL is of great significance to design a high-performance phosphor.

Objectives: Shortage of kidney allografts is a major barrier to end-stage renal disease patients receiving kidney transplantation, and it is necessary to enlarge the donor pool and find better ways of using available allografts. The global incidence of nephrolithiasis is increasing, nephrolithiasis affects approximately 10% of adults worldwide, and it also affects the kidney donors. However, there is little information about the use of cadaveric kidney allografts with nephrolithiasis. This study aims to evaluate the safety and outcome of kidney transplantation with allografts from the deceased donors with nephrolithiasis., Methods: A total of 520 deceased donors who was at least 10 years old, and 945 adult recipients with single kidney transplantation at the Department of Kidney Transplantation, the Second Xiangya Hospital from 2016 to 2020 were included in this study. The donors were divided into 2 groups according to nephrolithiasis diagnoses: The donors with nephrolithiasis (D + ) and the donors without nephrolithiasis (D - ). The recipients were assigned into 3 groups according to their donors and the allografts they received: The allografts from donors without nephrolithiasis (D - K - ), the allografts without nephrolithiasis from donors with nephrolithiasis (D + K - ), and the allografts with nephrolithiasis (D + K + ). The demographic and clinical data of enrolled subjects were retrospectively analyzed. The allograft discard ratio between different donors were analyzed. The one-year survival of allografts and recipients, as well as the allograft function and the complications of kidney transplantation were compared., Results: Fifty out of 520 donors had nephrolithiasis, and the nephrolithiasis incidence was 9.6%. We recovered 1 040 kidneys, and total discard rate was 4.4% (46/1 040). The D + group had a rate of 7% discard. The donors with kidney discard accounted for 12% in the D + group, and this was higher than that of donors in the D - group (5.1%, P <0.05). The total incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) was 7.5%, and there were no significant differences in the incidence of DGF in recipients among the D - K - , D + K - , and D + K + group (7.5% vs 6.5% vs 8.2%, P> 0.05). During the one-year follow-up, 8 allografts lost function and 19 recipients died with a functional allograft. Recipients in the D - K - , D + K - ,and D + K + groups also had no significant difference between a one-year allograft and patient survival rate ( P >0.05). However, recipients in the D + K + group had a higher level of serum creatinine [(139.2±62.46) μmol/L vs (117.19±51.22) μmol/L, P <0.05] and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR; (56.67±23.31) mL/(min·1.73 m -2 ) vs (66.86±21.90) mL/(min·1.73 m -2 ), P <0.05] compared with recipients in the D - K - group at 12 months after transplantation. During the first year after transplantation, 4 recipients developed urolithiasis, and recipients who received allografts from the D + group donors had a higher incidence of urolithiasis than those who received allografts from the D - group donors (2.2% vs 0.2%, P <0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence of urinary tract infections and ureteral strictures at 1 year between recipients of D + and D - donors (both P >0.05)., Conclusions: The cadaveric kidney allografts with nephrolithiasis could be safely used for transplantation, and the short-term outcome is acceptable. However, nephrolithiasis in donors may increase the rate of kidney discard, disturb the short-term function of allografts, and increase the risk of urolithiasis in recipients. Further research with a long-term study is needed to verify the long-term outcome of kidney transplantation using cadaveric kidney allografts with nephrolithiasis.

The effect of oxygen vacancies (V O ) and the atmosphere influence on persistent luminescence (PersL) in Y 3 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 (YAGG):Ce 3+ ,Yb 3+ are investigated by heating it in CO 2 , air, and 10% H 2 /90% Ar atmospheres. The V O -rich YAGG phosphors with outstanding PersL are successfully obtained by the common contribution of the reducing atmosphere and the incorporated Yb 3+ ions, and the concentration of oxygen vacancies in the phosphors is characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements. Compared to the best sample prepared in neutral CO 2 , the reduced sample shows an increase of 30% in initial intensity and 100% in duration time, while the oxidized sample decreases drastically and shows a faint and undetectable PersL. The enhancement is mainly caused by the abundant formation of V O , which is achieved by the pairing of V O with Yb 2+ ions. The newly created V O by the reducing calcination is inferred to be adjacent to the Yb site and forms a compensation-type defect cluster due to the charge compensation effect. These findings reveal that understanding the effect and formation of V O is of great significance to design a high-performance phosphor.

Background: A number of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to be involved in tumor progression and associated with disease prognoses in various types of cancer. Our study identified a novel three-lncRNA signature to predict survival of head and neck squamous cell caner (HNSCC) patients., Methods: We utilized The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort to screen out overall survival (OS)-associated lncRNAs in HNSCC and further developed a model to identify a lncRNA signature for evaluating disease status and prognosis. The lncRNA signature was then validated in HNSCC patients from our Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) cohort., Results: LINC02434, AL139327.2, and AC126175.1 were identified by multivariable Cox regression analyses of independent risk factors for deceased status. We built a risk score model based on the three-lncRNA signature using coefficient of multivariable Cox regression and expression value of the three lncRNAs. The high-risk signature score was significantly associated with decreased OS in both the TCGA cohort and the FUSCC cohort. The high-risk group had worse overall survival than the low-risk group in TCGA cohort. To further validate the robustness of three-lncRNA signature risk score model developed in the TCGA dataset, the performance of risk score also evaluated in our institute FUSCC cohort. Additionally, the signature score showed a positive correlation with aggressive outcomes of HNSCC, such as III/IV stage, TP53 mutation, and PI3KCA mutation. The gene set enrichment analysis indicates that the risk score is associated with cancer metastasis-related pathways. Several cancer-related pathways, such as epithelial mesenchymal transition, TNFα signaling via NF-κB, MYC targets, and angiogenesis., Conclusions: The three-lncRNA signature could provide a novel prediction insight into the prognosis of HNSCC patients. The three-lncRNA signature was identified as a predictor of poor prognoses in HNSCC, which may serve as a potential therapeutic target.

Objective: This research was designed to probe into the regulatory mechanism of long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA (DANCR) in potential applications and molecular mechanisms of prostate carcinoma (PC)., Methods: The DANCR and miR-214-5p levels in PC tissues and cell lines were tested via real-time PCR, and those of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway related proteins were evaluated via Western Blot (WB). Cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis and the regulatory relationship between target genes were assessed via MTT method, scratch test, flow cytometry, dual-luciferase report, RNA co-immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down test, respectively., Results: DANCR was up-regulated in PC patients' serum and cell lines, while miR-214-5p was opposite, showing negative correlation. Besides, DANCR was significantly correlated with PSA, Gleason score and T stage in PC patients. The area under the curve (AUC) of DANCR and miR-214-5p for diagnosing PC was not less than 0.850, while the AUC for predicting poor prognosis was more than 0.800. Cox analysis results also revealed that the two might be prognostic indicators of PC patients. We found that DANCR high levels or miR-214-5p low levels were related to PC patients' poor prognosis. Up-regulating DANCR or down-regulating miR-214-5p could promote PC cells' malignant proliferation and migration, prevent apoptosis, and activate TGF-β signaling pathway, while reverse treatment of DANCR or miR-214-5p can reverse the above results. DANCR regulates miR-214-5p in a targeted manner, and DANCR over-expression can reduce the cancer inhibitory effect of miR-214-5p on PC cells., Conclusion: DANCR-miR-214-5p-TGF-β axis regulatory network plays a key regulatory part in PC progression. It may provide new strategies for the screening and treatment of patients., Competing Interests: None., (AJTR Copyright © 2021.)

Objective: The model of acute renal injury (AKI) induced by sepsis in rats was established by abdominal resection through surgical suture. The activation mechanism of nod-like receptor with pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammatory corpuscle in AKI induced by sepsis was analyzed., Methods: Here, 60 male rats were selected and divided into two groups, including sham-operated group (NO-OPs group, n = 15) and sepsis group (CELP group, n = 45). In order to examine each index of CELP group, four time points (10, 20, 30, and 40 h) were set as control. In NO-OPs group, only abdominal resection through surgical suture was carried out. The expression levels of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a C-terminal caspase recruitment domain (ASC), caspase-1, and the expression level of NLRP3-TXNIP signaling pathway were measured by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, and mito-TEMPO (a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant) 40 h after operation and 10, 20, 30, and 40 h post-operation in CELP group. Herein, 40 h post-operation in NO-OPs group and 10, 20, 30, and 40 h post-operation in CELP group, peripheral blood samples were collected., Results: Compared with NO-OPs group, the levels of serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in CELP group were increased (P < 0.05). Compared with NO-OPs group, the expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 in CELP group were increased (P < 0.05). The expression level of TXNIP in renal tubular epithelial cells in rats was up-regulated. There was a positive correlation between TXNIP and NLRP3. The binding of NLRP3-TXNIP signaling pathway could be inhibited by siRNA transfection or mito-TMPO, and the activity of NLRP3 inflammatory bodies could be inhibited as well., Conclusion: Activation of NLRP3 inflammatory corpuscles could promote AKI induced by sepsis. Simultaneously, renal injury may lead to the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS), which may induce the binding of TXNIP to NLRP3., (© 2020 The Authors.)

This study attempts to investigate the relationship among electricity consumption, economic growth, and employment in China. Distinct from most of the previous studies, our empirical research identifies a long-run equilibrium cointegration relationship among the three covariates during the period of 1971-2009 with the recently developed autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach. The parameters are estimated through a long-run static solution of the estimated ARDL model and short-run dynamic solutions of the error correction model. The estimated models successfully pass diagnostic tests and both the long-run and short-run elasticities are found to be statistically significant. The study also indicates the existence of short-run and long-run causalities from electricity consumption and employment to economic growth. Results of this study show that electricity serves as an important driver of economic growth. Based on these results, several policy prescriptions on energy use and economic development are suggested for China.

TiO 2 nanotubes (TNTs) fabricated by anodization have been extensively researched in recent years. However, the mechanism that controls the growth orientation of anodic TNTs is still not clear. Here, we firstly examine their growth orientation systematically. Combined with the previous literature, the results of anodization on rotated Ti foil and thin Ti wire confirm that almost all of the TNTs grow vertically to the local Ti substrate surface. Their growth orientation predominantly depends on the local electric field around the bottom of the nanotube. The distribution of the local electric field is regulated by the shape of the initial nano-scale local Ti substrate surface (INLTSS). Most of the INLTSS is nearly flat, which leaves vertical, circular, and straight TNTs. In terms of the evolution of TNTs fabricated on a micron-scale convex surface, the vertical growth of TNTs leads to a continuous decrease in the oxide/substrate (O/S) interface area, and a few TNTs are periodically crushed and detached from the O/S interface. For a micron-scale concave surface, due to the ever-increasing O/S interface area, Y-branched TNTs occurred periodically as a response to avoid a vacancy on the oxide/substrate interface.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in bladder cancer., Methods: We enrolled healthy volunteers and patients who were clinically suspected to have bladder cancer and conducted FISH tests and cytology examinations from August 2007 to December 2008. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed and the area under curve (AUC) values were calculated for both the FISH and urine cytology tests., Results: A cohort of 988 healthy volunteers was enrolled to establish a reference range for the normal population. A total of 4807 patients with hematuria were prospectively, randomly enrolled for the simultaneous analysis of urine cytology, FISH testing, and a final diagnosis as determined by the pathologic findings of a biopsy or a surgically-excised specimen. Overall, the sensitivity of FISH in detecting transitional-cell carcinoma was 82.7%, while that of cytology was 33.4% ( p  < 0.001). The sensitivity values of FISH for non-muscle invasive and muscle invasive bladder transitional-cell carcinoma were 81.7% and 89.6%, respectively ( p  = 0.004). The sensitivity values of FISH for low and high grade bladder cancer were 82.6% and 90.1%, respectively ( p  = 0.002)., Conclusion: FISH is significantly more sensitive than voided urine cytology for detecting bladder cancer in patients evaluated for gross hematuria at all cancer grades and stages. Higher sensitivity using FISH was obtained in high grade and muscle invasive tumors.

MicroRNAs have been implicated in cancer cells proliferation, migration and invasion, including clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). DNA methylation, a major epigenetic change associated with cancer, may lead to transcriptional silencing of tumor suppressor genes, including miRNAs, which may be a possible mechanism in carcinogenesis. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of miR-10b in ccRCC and its possible epigenetic mechanism. By qPCR and MSP, we found that miR-10b was significantly decreased in ccRCC tissues and cells, and exhibited heavy methylation on promoter. Upregulation of miR-10b by transfecting with lentivirus highly expressed miR-10b or by exogenous demethylation agents was capable of inhibiting cell proliferation, migration and invasion measured by CCK-8 cell proliferation assay, scratch assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle. Our results suggest that miR-10b plays a tumor-suppressive role in ccRCC. Demethylation of miR-10b may be therapeutically beneficial for ccRCC treatment.

Objective: This study aims to determine the impact of increasing polyunsaturated fatty acid intake on blood glucose, lipid metabolism, and pregnancy outcomes of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus., Methods: Under constant total energy and protein intake, 84 pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus were randomly divided into the experimental and control groups, which were given oil-rich and conventional low-oil meals, respectively., Results: After the dietary intervention, the intake and energy supply of fat and the three fatty acids were significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group (p<0.001). The intake and energy supply of polyunsaturated fatty acids increased significantly post-intervention in the experimental group but did not change in the control group. In both the intervention and the control group, fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial plasma glucose, and the insulin resistance index decreased significantly post-intervention (p<0.05); the lipid changes were consistent between groups. Pregnancy outcomes did not differ significantly between the two groups (p>0.05)., Conclusions: An appropriate increase in polyunsaturated fatty acid intake benefits pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus as well as fetuses, as long as the diet therapy follows basic recommendations and total energy intake is strictly controlled.

Objective: To study the effect and outcome of Boari bladder flap plasty surgery for the treatment of kidney-sparing strategy for patients with middle and lower ureteral carcinoma., Methods: Database at the department of urology in the Second Xiangya Hospital from 2002-2007 was screened and all cases of primary solitary lower ureteral carcinoma treated with Boari bladder flap plasty surgery or radical nephroureterectomy were collected. We performed a retrospective review of the clinical data including sex, age, smoking history, tumor site, size, stage, grade, bladder recurrence, renal function et al and evaluated survival rate. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was build to analyze the correlation between each variable and survival time., Results: Thirty nine patients in total were enrolled, including 16 cases underwent Boari bladder flap plasty surgery and 23 cases underwent radical nephroureterectomy. The median follow-up time was 53 months (range 10-84 months). During the follow-up time, 18 patients died, including 6 patients treated with Boari bladder flap plasty surgery and 12 patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy. The estimated bladder recurrence-free survival rate and cancer-specific survival rate at 5 years were 63% vs 59% and 73.8% vs 73.5%, respectively (P>0.05). The survival rate at 5 years and the overall survival rate were 61% vs 57 % and 64.8% vs 58.1% respectively in the 2 groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in renal function before surgery between the two groups [creatinine clearance 57 (32-104 ) mL/ min vs 55 (30-102) mL/ min, P>0.05]. Patients underwent Boari bladder flap plasty showed better renal function than patients underwent radical nephroureterectomy [creatinine clearance 55 (35-102) mL/ min vs 43 (30-89) mL/min, P<0.05]. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, the tumor size, pT stage, tumor cell grade and the estimated glomerular filtration rate level were independent factors that affected the overall survival rate of the patients (P<0.05). The tumor size, pT stage and tumor cell grade were positively correlated to the survival time, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate was negatively correlated to the survival time., Conclusion: Boari bladder flap plasty surgery could be used to treat lower ureteral carcinoma. Compared with radical nephroureterectomy, Boari bladder flap plasty surgery has equal survival rate and shows superior postoperative renal function.

Objective: To compare the outcome of mini-tract vs standard-tract percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in staghorn calculi., Methods: Between May 2009 and May 2011, 122 patients with renal staghorn calculi were treated by PCNL. Fifty-six patients underwent mini-PCNL and the others underwent standard-PCNL. The therapeutic effect and complication of the 2 groups were compared., Results: The two groups had comparable demographic conditions. Although the operation time was significantly longer in mini-PCNL group [(126±24.5) min vs (98±18.9) min], there was no striking difference in hospital stay [(5.7±1.3) d vs (5.3±1.1) d], hemoglobin drop [(9.5±3.2) g/L vs (10.5±3.3) g/L], stone-free state before charge (91.1% vs 89.4%) and complications., Conclusion: The efficacy and safety of mini-PCNL and standard-PCNL are not significantly different.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical results of tube gastrostomy in radical cystectomy and ileal conduit., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 98 patients undergoing radical cystectomy and ileal conduit between March 2007 and February 2010. According to postoperative gastrointestinal decompression methods, the patients were divided into nasogastric decompression group (n=50) and tube gastrostomy group (n=48), and the gastrointestinal recovery time, surgical complications and hospital stay were compared between them., Results: No statistical difference was found in gastrointestinal recovery time, hospital stay, or surgical complications between the two groups, but the incidence of pulmonary infection was significantly lower in tube gastrostomy group than in nasogastric decompression group (P<0.05)., Conclusion: Tube gastrostomy is an easy, safe and effective means for gastric decompression after radical cystectomy with ileal conduit, especially suitable for elderly patients and those with potential pulmonary disorder.

Objective: To analyze efficacy and safety of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in the management of staghorn calculi with solitary kidney., Methods: Between April 2009 and December 2011, 13 patients with renal staghorn calculi in solitary kidney were treated by PCNL in our hospital. The therapeutic effects and complications were the main points of the analysis., Results: Of the 13 patients, surgery time was 92-164 (117.2±21.5) min; 9 cases underwent PCNL through a single access tract, 4 cases through multi-access tracts. The stone removal rate in one session of PCNL was 76.9%, and the total clearance rate was 92.3%. Hemoglobin dropped 11-32 (16.4±4.6) g/L; one case required blood transfusion; no patient had embolism. Hospital stay was 5-10 (6.9±1.5) days postoperatively. Serum creatinine before PCNL in these patients was 83-237 (146.24±38.73) μmol/L compared to 81-242 (134.56±21.52) μmol/L by the end of the 1-month follow-up period (not statistically different). Similar findings were observed in glomerular filtration rates: before PCNL it was 42-114 (71.32±20.82) mL/min and by the end of the 1-month follow-up it was 55-117 (79.40±22.14) mL/min (not statistically different)., Conclusion: PCNL is effective and safe for the treatment of staghorn stones in solitary kidney, and has advantages such as short surgical duration, fewer complications, rapid recovery, short hospital stay, effective stone removal rate, and so on.

Objective: To review the technical details of retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy and evaluate the clinical effect., Methods: Between June 2004 and December 2008, 69 patients (55 males and 14 females) with upper ureteral calculus received retroperitoneal laparoseopic ureterolithotomy (40 left sides and 29 right sides). The stone size ranged from 1.5 to 3.1 cm [(2.2±0.6) cm]., Results: All the patients underwent retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy. The operation time was 40-295 (63.1±19.8) min,and the blood loss was 30-150 (57.2±23.0) mL.The hospital stay was 5-8 (6.7±1.3) d. During the followup, there was neither ureteral stricture nor recurrent calculus., Conclusion: Retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy is safe, effective and minimally invasive, which may replace the conventional open surgery.