Search

It had been suggested, after facilitating the hatching process, improved pregnancy outcomes could be attained in embryos with thick and hard zona. This study aimed to determine the effect of zona thinning on pregnancy outcomes in poor-quality frozen-thawed blastocysts. This retrospective study included 230 women (≤ 40 years) who underwent frozen embryo transfer of poor-quality blastocysts (scored 3BB). In total, 105 patients were in the assisted hatching group in which the zona was thinned by laser before transfer and 125 patients were in the control group in which the blastocysts were non-manipulated. Patients' demographics, cycle characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes were compared between the assisted hatching group and the control group. Further, regression analysis was applied to test the correlation between assisted hatching and live birth. All parameters in the patients' demographic characteristics and the cycle's characteristics were not significantly different between two groups. As for pregnancy outcomes, the second trimester pregnancy loss was significantly higher in the assisted hatching group (P = 0.035). Other pregnancy outcomes, including implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, biochemical miscarriage rate, the first trimester pregnancy loss, ongoing pregnancy rate, and live birth rate were comparable between two groups. The logistic regression analysis demonstrated no association between live birth and assisted hatching (univariate, OR = 0.787, P 0.05; multivariate, OR = 0.652, P 0.05), and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the regression model was almost 0.7. It suggested that zona thinning may not be supposed to perform on poor-quality, frozen-thawed blastocysts. The indications of assisted hatching were still needed to further investigate.

Backgroundrs13405728 was identified as one of the most prevalent susceptibility loci for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Han Chinese and Caucasian women. However, the target genes and potential mechanisms of the rs13405728 locus remain to be determined.MethodsThree-dimensional (3D) genome interactions from the ovary tissue were characterized via high-through chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) and Capture Hi-C technologies to identify putative targets at the rs13405728 locus. Combined analyses of eQTL, RNA-Seq, DNase-Seq, ChIP-Seq, and sing-cell sequencing were performed to explore the molecular roles of these target genes in PCOS. PCOS-like mice were applied to verify the expression patterns.ResultsGenerally, STON1 and FSHR were identified as potential targets of the rs13405728 locus in 3D genomic interactions with epigenomic regulatory peaks, with STON1 (P=0.0423) and FSHR (P=0.0013) being highly expressed in PCOS patients. STON1 co-expressed genes were associated with metabolic processes (P=0.0008) in adipocytes (P=0.0001), which was validated in the fat tissue (PP=0.0035) from fat-diet mice. The immune system process (GO:0002376) was enriched in FSHR co-expressed genes (P=0.0002) and PCOS patients (P=0.0002), with CD4 high expression in PCOS patients (P=0.0316) and PCOS-like models (P=0.0079). Meanwhile, FSHR expression was positively correlated with CD4 expression in PCOS patients (P=0.0252) and PCOS-like models (P=0.0178). Furthermore, androgen receptor (AR) was identified as the common transcription factor for STON1 and FSHR and positively correlated with the expression of STON1 (P=0.039) and FSHR (P=4e-06) in ovary tissues and PCOS-like mice.ConclusionOverall, we identified STON1 and FSHR as potential targets for the rs13405728 locus and their roles in the processes of adipocyte metabolism and CD4 immune expression in PCOS, which provides 3D genomic insight into the pathogenesis of PCOS.

To obtain a mild Fenton pre-oxidation method, which could promote the efficient degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in subsequent bioremediation, the differences in the characteristics of the hydroxyl radical (·OH), nutrient consumption, activity of indigenous bacteria (CO

The interaction between colistin sulfate (CS) with bovine serum albumin in physiological buffer (pH 7.4) was investigated with resonance light scattering spectroscopy at 298, 310, and 318 K. The analysis of data indicated that quenching mechanism of BSA-CS was probably static. The value of n was approximately 1, indicating there was only a single class of binding sites on BSA for CS compounds. The thermodynamic parameters were calculated at different temperatures, implying that the interaction was spontaneous and electrostatic force played major role in the binding between CS and BSA. The values of nH were equal to 1 at different temperatures, indicating there was non-cooperative reaction between BSA and CS. The feasibility of resonance light scattering spectroscopy was verified by fluorescence quenching spectroscopy. The quenching reactive parameters (KSV，Kq，n，Ka) from two methods were similar, suggesting resonance light scattering spectroscopy could be used to study the binding interaction between protein and drugs. Resonance light scattering spectroscopy can be used to explore the substance without intrinsic fluorescence, suggesting that the application of resonance light scattering spectroscopy broadens the understanding of the interaction between small molecules and protein.

Investigate the influence of benazepril and amlodipine on the expression of secretin (PZ) and somatostatin (SS) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).Forty-five SHRs (14 weeks old, male) were randomly assigned into 3 groups (After 8 weeks of intervention, compared with the WKY group, the expression of protein and mRNA of PZ in duodenum and SS in sinuses ventriculi was increased significantly in SHR group (The regulation disorder of PZ in duodenum and SS in sinuses ventriculi exists in SHR. The antihypertensive effect of benazepril and amlodipine may be realized by regulating the expression of PZ and SS, while the regulation of amlodipine is more obvious than benazepril.

A mathematical model of a horizontal axis washing machine with a ball balancer is built. The Floquet multipliers are employed for judging the stability of the system based on which a special continuation program considering the influence of gravity is developed. Stability analysis is carried out with stable and unstable regions above 4 Hz discovered. Influences of several parameters on variations of the boundaries between the regions are discussed. Dynamics of the spinning cycle in Stable region 1 are studied. The phenomenon that the tub's axis moves along the lateral surface of a cone is discovered based on which equilibrium of the centrifugal forces is discussed and a potential method for getting a smaller vibration angle is proposed. A ball balancer is produced for experiment with its lubrication and defects due to friction discussed. Quantitative experiment is done on a commercial washing machine with instability of the balancer, the cone shape trajectory of the tub's axis and the method of obtaining a smaller vibration angle validated.

According to the requirement of information integration for the CNC equipments, remote monitoring and management system for CNC based on Rich Internet Application (RIA) is developed. The structure and key technology of the system are introduced in detail. Serial port servers are used to realize the network connection of the CNC equipments. Based on RIA structure, the system achieves remote transmission of NC programs, real-time monitoring and analyzing the running status of CNC equipments. With more convenient information processing and more accurate equipment condition mastering, the productivity can be improved effectively.

A key issue of the machining for the small line block is to improve the machining feedrate while keeping the machining precision and satisfying the acceleration constraints. In this paper, a new approach for continuous small line blocks high speed machining is proposed to avoid the impact of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) equipments caused by acceleration gust. This approach uses the small line flag to distinguish whether the path is small line block. While the paths are continuous small line blocks, this approach can automatically adjust the number of look-ahead segments, and predigest the velocity calculation method of the connection point. We first define what a path is small line block. Then we analyze the restrictions for velocity linking of adjacent processing paths, and propose the approach for continuous small line blocks machining. Finally we design a simulation experiment on 30 points processing of the spline track. The result of the simulation shows that this algorithm can obviously shorten the processing time and make control system more harmonious in high speed machining.

Jiangmen in middle industrialization, in the high-speed economic development and at the same time energy consumption growing fast, are accompanied by a rise in Carbon dioxide emissions.In order to find out the main factors affecting the carbon emissions of Jiangmen, and reduce carbon emissions, this paper recommended 1990-2010 energy consumption carbon emissions of Jiangmen based on the method IPCC assessment . The ridge regression model based on the STIRPAT was set up to describe the environmental impact and the precise relationship between driving force. At last, some Suggestions were put forward : adjusting the industrial structure, changing the mode of economic growth, and the use of low carbon technology, building good real estate development of low carbon policy environment.

The passive direction finding cross localization has got great achievement and has been widely used in military and civilian fields. Currently, the researches on passive localization have focused on AOA, TDOA and FDOA. In our system, the passive direction finding cross localization is more effective and useful. We use two UAVs to locate a single source. We apply the geometric method to analysis positioning accuracy. In order to study the performance of a passive direction finding cross localization, MATLAB is used to simulate the result. Finally, the simulation results and performance analysis provide operational technical principle for such a system.

This article addresses design of ROPS model with energy absorption structure based on dimensions of cross section, characteristics of force and deformation pattern of ROPS. Optimum design parameters have been obtained from optimized analysis of multiple-objective structural crashworthiness of thin-walled straight square tube subject to deformation due to pore defect using a combination of finite element analysis, design of experiment, response surface methodology and generic algorithm.

ST14 material around the back door window frames of the front bracket parts for the carrier, and to AutoForm stamping process finite element analysis software as a platform for ST14 experience of the material structure process simulation of material forming process, the analysis of the parts stamping process defects through repeated amendments of Part Process structure, to achieve the purpose of stamping process defects.

This paper studies dynamics of a three-column centrifuge and tries to design a ball balancer to suppress its vibration and increase its operating speed. At first, two vibration models with and without the balancer are introduced. Then modal analysis of the centrifuge itself is carried out with two isolated natural frequency groups identified. Centrifugal forces acting on the system at the steady state are analyzed and a tip-over phenomenon is discovered and validated through simulations. A ball balancer is adopted in the centrifuge and several potential tip-over phenomena related to the balancer are studied. At last, a comparison between dynamics of the centrifuge before and after the balancer is installed is made with benefits and side effects of the balancer presented.

In this study, we analyzed the relationship between social support cognition types and family resource management. Participants were 501 migrant workers in Suzhou, China. The results indicated that: (a) migrant workers with different social support cognition types reported significant differences in their family resource management, (b) migrant workers with different demographic variables reported significant differences in their social support cognition types, and (c) certain demographic variables and social support cognition Type II significantly predicted family resource management.

It is known that two primary disadvantages of parallel manipulators are the complicated forward kinematics and limited workspace. This paper mainly addressed the kinematics and workspace analyses of a 3/3-RRRS 6-DOF parallel manipulator. After a brief introduction of the 3/3 -RRRS 6-DOF parallel manipulator, a three-dimensional model and its relevant structure diagram are constituted, the forward and inverse displacement analyses of the 3/3-RRRS parallel manipulator are discussed in detail, especially, a novel geometrical method referred as equivalent mechanism is proposed for the forward displacement analysis of the manipulator under consideration. Based on the displacement analyses of the manipulator, a discretization method is proposed for the computation of the reachable position/orientation workspace of the 3/3-RRRS parallel manipulator, respectively. Examples of a 3/3-RRRS parallel manipulator are given to demonstrate these theoretical results.

Many factors influence WEDM (Wire-cut Electrical Discharge Machining) processing precision, and the influence of various factors on the processing precision are expressed by wire electrode dynamic form ultimately. In this paper, the transverse vibration theoretical model of the axially moving electrode wire coupled with thermal stresses is established by the principle of Hamilton. The influence of various processing parameters on wire vibration are analyzed and simulated. This study provides a relevant theoretical basis for optimizing processing parameters, reducing the wire vibration and improving machining precision.

This paper presents a method for analytical prediction of displacement response and the results from virtual vibrating tests of a washing machine cabinet model. The cabinet was modelled with finite element method in ANSYS software. The input excitation used during the test was from the records obtained from the virtual prototype of a front-loading washing machine during the spin-dry cycle. The simulation results indicated good agreement with the mechanical performance of the actual test system, which could afford better support for designers to explore the robustness of the cabinet.

This paper analyzes non-linear vibration characteristics associated with the spin drying process of a vertical axis automatic washing machine with a hydraulic balancer. A two-ball model is employed to describe the effect of the hydraulic balancer and a mathematical model is built for the washing machine. Based on a rotating coordinate transformation, this model is then converted to an autonomous form for stability analyses. The continuation package AUTO [1] is employed and two unstable regions of the spin drying process denoted by M and N are identified. The unstable region N is discussed in detail because it has an essential effect on the spin drying process. At last, the existence of the unstable region N is proved by both simulations and experiments.

Many factors influence WEDM(Wire-cut Electrical Discharge Machining) machining precision, and the influence of various factors on the machining precision are expressed by wire electrode dynamic form ultimately. In this paper, the transverse vibration theoretical model of the axially moving electrode wire coupled with thermal stresses is established by the principle of Hamilton. The influence of various processing parameters on machining precision are analyzed and simulated. This study provides a relevant theoretical basis for optimizing processing parameters, reducing the wire vibration and improving machining precision of workpiece.

A new approach is used in this paper to analyze steady-state response of a vertical axis automatic washing machine with a hydraulic balancer and a method for getting a smaller deflection angle of the washing/drying assembly is presented. First, a mathematical model of the vertical axis washing machine and a numerical description of the hydraulic balancer are described and a vibration model for the vertical axis washing machine with a hydraulic balancer is built. Second, the vibration model is transformed into an autonomous form whose equilibrium point can be used to analyze dynamics of the washing machine at the steady state. Because the autonomous form can be solved by the Newton–Raphson method which requires only a few iterations, it provides a much faster approach for analyzing steady-state response of the spin drying process than traditional numerical integration methods. Five parameters influencing the spin drying process are considered, and the balancer's importance in reducing vibrations at the steady state is illustrated. Third, the equilibrium conditions of the centrifugal forces acting on the clothes, the washing/drying assembly and the balancer are considered, and a governing equation for getting a smaller deflection angle of the washing/drying assembly is derived. At last, parameters in the governing equation, especially those related to the hydraulic balancer, are discussed.

In this paper, the finite element model for the cabinet of a drum washing machine and the model for testing vibration of the cabinet were developed in ANSYS software and PULSE™, respectively. A series of tests were conducted. The natural frequencies and mode shapes were obtained by finite element analysis and modal experiment, which revealed weak parts of the cabinet. Meanwhile, the computational modes were in good agreement with experimental ones and this could provide an available method by which it was convenient to improve the design of the cabinet.

This article addresses the design of ROPS model with energy absorbing structure based on dimensions of cross-section, mechanic properties and deformation pattern of ROPS. Afterwards, optimized buffer and energy-absorbing elements are installed on hexastyle ROPS of certain loader where roll-over accident can be simulated. Results indicate such structure can offer significantly improved protection. Installation of buffer and energy absorbing elements will not only absorb vast amount of motion during roll-over, but also will reduce deformation to ROPS. This has well coordinated the conflict between required rigidity and energy absorbing.

A six-axis CNC belt grinding machine automatic programming technology was studied in this paper, and which used D-H rule to solve out five-axis motion variables (the DOF of A, B, X, Y, Z), then discussed the problem of maximum contact degree between the grinding wheel and contact surface, and solved out the C-axis motion variable (the sixth DOF) by the direction of principal curvature in each cutter location point, after that gave a modified method of C-axis motion variable to smooth the machining. In order to ensure the machining accuracy while improving the machining efficiency, the paper summarized the self-adaptive spacing and step distance calculation method. The results which verified by a simulation analysis were validity and reliability, and provide a new thinking and beneficial reference for the research of other similar NC programming technology.

This paper analyzes the nonlinear vibration characteristics associated with the spin drying process of a vertical axis automatic washing machine without any balancer. At first, damping properties born with the machine's suspension system are discussed and a mathematical model involving tangential damping forces is built. Based on a rotating coordinate transformation, this model is then converted to an autonomous form for stability analyses. The continuation and bifurcation software AUTO [1] is applied and a Hopf bifurcation phenomenon is observed from a one-parameter bifurcation diagram. Based on several two-parameter bifurcation diagrams, several parameters affecting the Hopf bifurcation are then discussed. At last, bifurcation results are validated by time responses of the autonomous system. For a further view of the spin drying process, simulations of the non-autonomous system are also provided. This paper provides a new insight into the spin drying process of the vertical axis automatic washing machine.

An automatic washing machine vibrates with lager amplitudes and noise during the spin-dry cycle, which affects human health and machine reliability. In this paper, we are interested in the study of the dynamic performance of a drum washing machine, with springs top-mounted and dampers bottom-mounted. A novel model for simulation of the dynamic performance of the drum washing machine was developed under MSC.ADAMS software package. Next, simulations and validations were performed. The simulation results indicated good agreement with the mechanical performance of the actual test system, which demonstrated the validity of the dynamic model to predict the displacements of the tub center during the spin-dry cycle. Moreover, the developed model was capable of successfully simulating drum washer operating test for various dynamic responses of the given parts by building Measures or using Markers at the transient or steady-state, which could afford better support for designers to explore the robustness of the cabinet.

Based on the theoretical analysis of forming shoulder used in fill-and-seal packaging machine, this paper presented the 2-D and 3-D mathematical models of offset bending curve jointing the vertical tube and shoulder parts. According to the technology widely used in the manufacturers, the theoretical basis was provided for preparing the rough parts to make the shoulders. Furthermore, a new method using test tube was proposed to check the shape curve and locate the shoulder parts before welding. Transformed from 3-D offset bending curve, the 2-D cutting data of test tube was also provided for practical use.

Remote monitoring is an important technical way to assure the key equipment to run properly and safely. In the paper, a remote monitoring system based on GPRS wireless communication was developed for large-scale equipments. The architecture of the system was given. The key techniques of the system design, including the remote data transmission, remote monitoring and fault diagnosis techniques were analyzed. Furthermore, the hardware and software design of Data Transmission Unit (DTU) was introduced in detail. And the functional modules of the remote monitoring service system were presented. The system provides an effective way to realize remote monitoring and fault diagnosis for large-scale equipments.

At different temperatures (298, 310 and 318 K), the interaction between gliclazide and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated using fluorescence quenching spectroscopy, resonance light scattering spectroscopy and UV/vis absorption spectroscopy. The first method studied changes in the fluorescence of BSA on addition of gliclazide, and the latter two methods studied the spectral change in gliclazide while BSA was being added. The results indicated that the quenching mechanism between BSA and gliclazide was static. The binding constant (Ka ), number of binding sites (n), thermodynamic parameters, binding forces and Hill's coefficient were calculated at three temperatures. Values for the binding constant obtained using resonance light scattering and UV/vis absorption spectroscopy were much greater than those obtained from fluorescence quenching spectroscopy, indicating that methods monitoring gliclazide were more accurate and reasonable. In addition, the results suggest that other residues are involved in the reaction and the mode 'point to surface' existed in the interaction between BSA and gliclazide. Copyright © 2015 John WileySons, Ltd.

The purpose of the present paper is to determine calcium and magnesium in tobacco using NIR combined with least squares-support vector machine (LS-SVM). Five hundred ground and dried tobacco samples from Qujing city, Yunnan province, China, were surveyed by a MATRIX-I spectrometer (Bruker Optics, Bremen, Germany). At the beginning of data processing, outliers of samples were eliminated for stability of the model. The rest 487 samples were divided into several calibration sets and validation sets according to a hybrid modeling strategy. Monte-Carlo cross validation was used to choose the best spectral preprocess method from multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), standard normal variate transformation (SNV), S-G smoothing, 1st derivative, etc., and their combinations. To optimize parameters of LS-SVM model, the multilayer grid search and 10-fold cross validation were applied. The final LS-SVM models with the optimizing parameters were trained by the calibration set and accessed by 287 validation samples picked by Kennard-Stone method. For the quantitative model of calcium in tobacco, Savitzky-Golay FIR smoothing with frame size 21 showed the best performance. The regularization parameter λ of LS-SVM was e16.11, while the bandwidth of the RBF kernel σ2 was e8.42. The determination coefficient for prediction (Rc(2)) was 0.9755 and the determination coefficient for prediction (Rp(2)) was 0.9422, better than the performance of PLS model (Rc(2)=0.9593, Rp(2)=0.9344). For the quantitative analysis of magnesium, SNV made the regression model more precise than other preprocess. The optimized λ was e15.25 and σ2 was e6.32. Rc(2) and Rp(2) were 0.9961 and 0.9301, respectively, better than PLS model (Rc(2)=0.9716, Rp(2)=0.8924). After modeling, the whole progress of NIR scan and data analysis for one sample was within tens of seconds. The overall results show that NIR spectroscopy combined with LS-SVM can be efficiently utilized for rapid and accurate analysis of calcium and magnesium in tobacco.

We sought to detect the temporal change (1958-1999) in land use patterns and its relationship to physical landscape parameters in a small catchment in the semi-arid hilly area of the Chinese Loess Plateau. Degree of slope and soil type were selected as stable discriminating parameters that might constrain land use. With the help of GIS and canonical correspondence analysis, the relationship between rural land use distribution or transformation and the selected physical parameters was examined. The land use had undergone a general shift from farmland to woodland or grassland. Canonical correspondence analyses (CCA) indicated that a relationship between land use and the selected physical parameters was evident, farmland coincided with favorable conditions of fertile soil and gentle slope, while grassland and woodland were associated with conditions of poorer soil and steep slope. In the more favorable conditions the main land use change process was the intensification of fanning, while in the less favourable conditions it was the abandonment of farmland. A thorough understanding of the relationship between land use temporal or spatial patterns and landscape physical parameters in the Loess Plateau of China, like degree of slope and soil type, will enhance our capability to predict landscape dynamics and lead to more sound and effective land use management strategies. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Soil erosion is a serious problem in the Loess Plateau of China, and assessment of soil erosion at large watershed scale is urgently need. This study used RUSLE and GIS to assess soil loss in the Yanhe watershed. All factors used in the RUSLE were calculated for the watershed using local data. RUSLE-factor maps were made. The mean values of the R-factor, K-factor, LS-factor, C-factor and P-factor were 970 209 MJ km(-2) h(-1) a(-1), 0.0195 Mg h MJ(-1) mm(-1), 10.27, 0.33359 and 0.2135 respectively. The mean value of the annual average soil loss was found to be 14 458 Mg km(-2) per year, and the soil loss rate in most areas was between 5000 and 20 000 Mg km(-2) per year. There is more erosion in the centre and southeast than in the northwest of Yanhe watershed. Because of the limitations of the RUSLE and spatial heterogeneity, more work should be done on the RUSLE-factor accuracy, scale effects, etc. Furthermore, it is necessary to apply some physical models in the future, to identify the transport and deposition processes of sediment at a large scale. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley S Sons, Ltd.

The parametric instabilities of intense laser–plasma interaction are investigated by one-dimensional (1D) dispersion relation and particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. We show the evolution of laser spectrum from discrete to continuous with increase of the laser intensity and plasma density. An extremely broad, supercontinuum (SC) radiation decays slowly in frequency is generated from an intense subpicosecond laser pulse propagating in plasmas. The continuous spectrum is produced owing to the merging of stimulated Raman scattering instability with relativistic self-modulation instability in their wave-vector space when the laser intensity and plasma density are high enough. This results in strong nonlinear coupling of these instabilities. The extents of SC spectra can be enlarged if the unstable regions get broaden by selecting suitable parameter windows for the laser intensity and the plasma density. The effects of laser pulse polarizations, pulse duration and propagating distance on SC generation are also discussed. It is found that continuum spectra from circularly polarized laser pulses are similar to these from linearly polarized pulses.

Poor vegetation cover as a result of irrational land use is generally considered to be the major factor of soil erosion in the Loess Plateau in China. However, there is lack of knowledge concerning the dynamics of land use and the complex role of socio-economic policy factors in inducing changes in land use, especially at detailed scale levels such as in individual small catchments. This study analyzes the process of human-induced landscape change in a small catchment in the northern part of the Chinese Loess Plateau from 1958 to 1999. During this period, a significant reduction of the area of farmland on steeper slopes and an increase in woodland took place. Household questionnaires among the local farmers, a review of the historic events and literature allowed the assessment of socio-economic and policy forces that caused these changes. The research showed that the changes of agricultural landscape pattern are mainly the result of the dissolution of People’s Communes in 1979 (established in 1956), the introduction of a Household Responsibility System (in 1978), the implementation of the Family Planning policy (in 1978), and the adoption of a market-directed economic system (in 1992), as well as the execution of an integrated soil erosion control project (begun in 1981). The changes of the agricultural landscape show the benefits in both ecological and economic respects.

To investigate the effect of direct moxibustion at Ganshu (BL18) on the serum concentrations of tumor specific growth factor (TSGF) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in a rat model with precancerous lesion of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), so as to explore the mechanism of moxibustion underlying improvement of HCC.Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (n=10), model group (n=20), prevention group 1 (n=15) and prevention group 2 (n=15). The normal rats were injected with physiological saline as blank control. At the same time, the rats of other three groups were injected with diethylnitrosamine to establish the HCC model. Direct moxibustion with grain-sized moxa was applied to bilateral Ganshu acupoint of the rats in the prevention group 1 (1 treatment course, 20 days) and prevention group 2 (2 treatment courses, 40 days), 5 doses for each acupoint, 0.5 mg/dose, once every other day. At each time point (before model establishment, the end of 1st course prevention, the end of 2nd course prevention and the end of model establishment), serum levels of TSGF and TNF-α were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Compared with the control group, there was a remarkably increase of serum TSGF and TNF-α contents in the model group at the end of the experiment (P0.05). At the end of the 1st course of direct moxibustion, the contents of serum TSGF and TNF-α of rats in the prevention group 1 were significantly increased compared with that of the model group (P0.05). At the end of the 2nd course of direct moxibustion, serum TSGF and TNF-α levels of rats in the model group were higher than the normal group with significantly difference (P0.05), and the levels of TSGF and TNF-α in the prevention group 2 were significantly reduced in comparison with the model group (P0.05).It was possible that direct moxibustion could inhibit precancerous lesion and postpone hepatocarcinogenesis, and the therapeutic effect of two courses were better than one course.

To observe the effect of moxibustion at "Ganshu" (BL18) on levels of Livin (a novel member of the inhibitors of apoptosis family and plays crucial roles in apoptosis, cell proliferation, and cell cycle control) in the liver tissue in rats with precancerous lesion of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of HCC.Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (n = 10), model group (n = 20), moxibustion-20 d group (n = 15) and moxibustion-40 d group (n = 15). HCC model was established by intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 50 mg/kg), once every 3 days for 12 weeks. Moxibustion was applied to bilateral "Ganshu" (BL 18), once every other day for 10 times (moxibustion-20 d group) and 20 times (moxibustion-40 d group), respectively. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) content was detected with ELISA and Livin immunoactivity of the liver tissue detected using immunohistochemistry.After modeling, serum AFP content and liver Livin immunoactivity of the model group were significantly increased in comparison with the control group (P0.01). After moxibustion treatment, serum AFP content in the moxibustion-20 d group and liver Livin immunoactivity in both moxibustion-20 d and moxibustion-40 d groups were remarkably down-regulated in comparison with the model group (P0.05). No significant differences were found between the moxibustion-40 d group and the model group in serum AFP content (P0.05).Moxibustion can down-regulate liver Livin protein expression, which probably has a role in promoting hepatocellular apoptosis to inhibit precancerous lesion and to postpone hepatocarcinogenesis.

The study aims to find a new biomarker in hypertension. Our study is the first time to demonstrate that the CD62P small microparticle (diameter is

OBJECTIVES: Several recent lines of evidence indicate that endothelial microparticles are a new biomarker that can be used to monitor endothelial dysfunction in coronary artery disease (CAD). However, data concerning the detection of small microparticles (diameter

Objective: To examine the phenotypes of endothelial microparticles and platelet microparticles in order to identify a sensitive endothelial microparticle biomarker for monitoring endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease, and to examine the mechanisms underlying endothelial dysfunction. Methods: Thirty-three coronary artery disease patients and 53 healthy subjects were recruited. The absolute numbers of endothelial microparticles and platelet microparticles were measured by flow cytometry, and the clinical characteristics of patients and healthy subjects were recorded. Spearman’s correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to analyse the correlation between endothelial microparticles and platelet microparticles, and between microparticles and clinical data. Results: There was a significant difference in the number of CD31+/CD42b- endothelial microparticles and CD62E+ endotheial microparticles between patients with coronary artery diease and healthy subjects (p

To explore the effect of N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide(W7) on the differentiation from human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) to endothelial cells.hADSCs were cultured with serum-free differential medium containing 40 ng/ml vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and 10ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Cells were divided into control group (differential medium without W7), high-dose group (containing 30 μmol/L W7), medium-dose group (containing 20 μmol/L W7), and low-dose group ( containing 10 μmol/L W7). The hADSCs were cultured for 8 days, and then the changes in the phenotypes of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and vessel-selective cadherin (VE-Cadherin) were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The intracellular Ca(2+) labeled with Fluo-3 was detected by laser confocal microscopy. After hADSCs planting on Matrigel, their angiogenic potentials were observed under the inverted phase contrast microscope, and the expression of extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphorylated extracellular regulated kinase (p-ERK) were evaluated by Western blot.After the hADSCs were cultured for 8 days, compared with the control group, the expressions of vWF and VE-Cadherin significantly increased along with the decrease of W7 level and the intracellular Ca(2+) also significantly increased (Pü0.01). Lumina-like vascular structure was formed in W7 treatment groups, but not in the blank control group. Compared with the blank control group, the expression of ERK showed no significant in W7 treatment groups (high-, medium-, and low-dose groups)(P0.05); however, along with the decrease of W7 levels, the expression of p-ERK significantly increased(P0.05).W7 in proper levels can effectively induce the differentiation from hADSCs to endothelium by increasing the intracellular Ca(2+) level and thus activating the ERK/MAPK pathway.

Both ginseng and American ginseng can not be replanted on the same soil consecutively. The article reviews the development and progress of studies on the replant failure of ginseng and American ginseng with a special focus on allelopathy in recent years. The allelopathy effect in ginseng and American ginseng is reviewed from following aspects: collecting and extracting allelochemicals, effects of such allelochemicals on seeds germination, seedlings growth, antioxidant enzyme activities in ginseng roots, growth of ginseng pathogens and ginseng callus, and more. It is presumed that inhibitory allelopathy is one of the many possible factors contributing to the replant failure of ginseng and American ginseng. Based on that, the paper points out problems in current researches on the allelopathic effect of ginseng and American ginseng: the allelochemicals are consist of a mixture, which one plays the specific role is not clear; concentrating on a single allelochemical while ignoring the interaction among allelochemicals. It is suggested that further study for this area should be focused on the interactions among allelochemicals and interactions between allelochemicals and environmental impact factors. Another area of needed research is that of the migration and transformation of allelochemicals in soil and microbial involvement in allelopathy on the growth of ginseng and American ginseng.

To establish the determination method for complanatoside A in seeds of Astragalus complanatus.An HPLC method has been developed to separate complanatoside A on ZORBAX EXTEND-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column with acetonitrile-water-phosphoric acid (20:80:0.2) as mobile phase and UV detection at 267 nm.The good linearity of complanatoside A ranged 0.086-0.430 microg, r = 0.9999. An average recovery of 99.8% (n = 5) was obtained with a RSD of 1.0%.The established method is proved to be stability, fast, accurate and can be used for quantification of Complanatoside A in Semen Astragali Complanati.