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Background Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) in the setting of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is a disease that is difficult to treat and prone to recurrence. Dupilumab is a promising treatment for these patients, but its cost-effectiveness has not yet been compared with aspirin (acetylsalicyclic acid, or ASA) desensitization, a known and effective treatment. We aimed to compare the cost-effectiveness of ASA desensitization with dupilumab therapy for the treatment of CRSwNP in AERD. Methods Analyses of cost-effectiveness, as measured in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and cost-utility, as measured in number of required revision endoscopic sinus surgeries (ESSs), were conducted. Results ASA desensitization after ESS was cost-effective and dominated appropriate medical management. Adding salvage dupilumab was also cost-effective (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio [ICER] $135,517.33), and upfront dupilumab therapy was not cost-effective in any scenario (ICER $273,181.32). The cost-utility analysis demonstrated that, over a 10-year period per patient, appropriate medical management after ESS cost $54,125.31 and resulted in 2.25 revision ESSs, ASA desensitization after ESS cost $53,775.15 and resulted in 2.02 revision ESSs, ASA desensitization with salvage dupilumab cost $121,176.25 and resulted in 1.68 revision ESSs, and upfront dupilumab cost $185,950.34 and resulted in 1.51 revision ESSs. Conclusion Dupilumab for the treatment of severe CRSwNP was found to be cost-effective as salvage therapy under the willingness-to-pay threshold of $150,000. Further analysis highlighted that the cost-effectiveness of dupilumab was most sensitive to drug price and expected gains in quality of life. This suggests that additional investigation into improving patient population selection and tailoring treatment algorithms may improve the cost-effectiveness of dupilumab in specific scenarios.

The incidence of cerebrospinal fluid leak after ventral skull base reconstruction is a primary outcome of interest to skull base surgeons. Exposure to pre-operative radiation may put patients at an increased risk of skull base reconstructive failure. A systematic search identified studies which included patients receiving ventral skull base reconstruction in the setting of pre-operative radiation. A meta-analysis using a random effects model was conducted to estimate an odds ratio of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak in patients exposed to pre-operative radiation. A meta-analysis of 13 studies demonstrated that the odds ratio of CSF leak was 1.73 (95% CI 0.98-3.05). The majority of studies (77%) used vascularized tissue grafts for reconstruction. We identified an increased incidence of CSF leak among patients undergoing ventral skull base reconstruction after prior radiation therapy, although not of statistical significance. Skull base surgeons should exercise caution when planning reconstruction in this population.

When electrodes react with an electrolyte, electrochromic (EC) devices undergo concentration polarization, which deteriorates EC device performance. Therefore, this study used poly 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) – silver nanowires (AgNWs)/indium tin oxide (ITO) as the counter electrodes of tungsten trioxide (WO3) EC devices. PEDOT:PSS-AgNWs/ITO exhibits favorable conductivity and light transmittance. In addition, AgNWs reduce the concentration polarization when EC devices undergo redox reactions, which results in an increase in the reversibility of ions entering the active layer of WO3 in an electrolyte. After using WO3 EC devices coated with PEDOT:PSS-AgNWs/ITO as counter electrodes, the transmittance modulation (ΔT), charge density (ΔOD), and coloration efficiency (CE) increased from 49.65% to 56.03%, 0.41 to 0.48, and 50.18 to 77.17 cm2/C, respectively.

ObjectivesPAX-Good Behaviour Game (PAX-GBG) is associated with improved mental health among youth. First Nations community members decided on a whole school approach to facilitate PAX-GBG implementation, by offering intervention training to all staff members in their schools. Our objective is to gain a greater understanding of how this approach was viewed by school personnel, in order to improve implementation in remote and northern First Nations communities.DesignWe conducted a qualitative case study using semi-structured interviews.SettingInterviews were conducted in First Nations schools located in northern Manitoba, Canada, in February 2018.ParticipantsWe used purposive sampling in selecting the 23 school staff from First Nations communities.InterventionPAX-GBG is a mental health promotion intervention that teachers deliver in the classroom alongside normal instructional activities. It was implemented school-wide over 4 months from October 2017 to February 2018.Outcome measuresWe inquired about the participants’ perception of PAX-GBG and the whole school approach. We applied an iterative coding system, identified recurring ideas and classified the ideas into major categories.ResultsImplementing the PAX-GBG whole school approach improved students’ behaviour and created a positive school environment. Students were learning self-regulation, had quieter voices and demonstrated awareness of the PAX-GBG strategies. All teachers interviewed had used the programme. Support from school administrators and having all school personnel use the programme consistently were facilitators to successful implementation. Challenges included the timing of training, lack of clarity in how to implement and implementing among students in older grades and those with special needs.ConclusionsThe whole school approach to implementing PAX-GBG was viewed as an acceptable and feasible way to extend the reach of PAX-GBG in order to promote the mental health of First Nations youth. Recommendations included ensuring school leadership support, changes to the training and cultural and literacy adaptations.

Two D–π–A copolymers, based on the benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]-dithiophene (BDT) as a donor unit and benzo-quinoxaline (BQ) or pyrido-quinoxaline (PQ) analog as an acceptor (PBDT-TBQ and PBDT-TPQ), were designed and synthesized as a p-type material for bulk heterojunction (BHJ) photovoltaic cells. When compared with the PBDT-TBQ polymer, PBDT-TPQ exhibits stronger intramolecular charge transfer, showing a broad absorption coverage at the red region and narrower optical bandgap of 1.69 eV with a relatively low-lying HOMO energy level at −5.24 eV. The experimental data show that the exciton dissociation efficiency of PBDT-TPQ:PC71BM blend is better than that in the PBDT-TBQ:PC71BM blend, which can explain that the IPCE spectra of the PBDT-TPQ-based solar cell were higher than that of the PBDT-TBQ-based solar cell. The maximum efficiency of PBDT-TPQ-based device reaches 4.40% which is much higher than 2.45% of PBDT-TBQ, indicating that PQ unit is a promising electron-acceptor moiety for BHJ solar cells. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 1822–1833

Background:Compound Fengshiding capsule (CFC), is a Chinese formulation from herbal origin including Alangium platanifolium, Angelicae dahurica, Cynanchum paniculatum and Glycyrrhiza uralensis. CFC is widely used as clinical therapy against rheumatoid arthritis. However, its exact mechanism of action has not been explored yet.Methods:In order to explore the synergistic mechanism of CFC, we designed a study adopting network pharmacology scheme to screen the action targets in relation to the CFC components. The study analyses target facts of salicin, paeonol, liquiritin and imperatorin from PubMed database, and explores the potential pharmacological targets of rheumatoid arthritis, cervical neuralgia and sciatica related diseases for their interaction.Results:The results of boosted metabolic pathway showed that the chemical components of CFC interrupted many immune-related pathways, thus participating in immunity regulation of the body and playing a role in the treatment of rheumatism. Collectively, CFC has apoptotic, oxidative stress modulatory and anti-inflammatory effects that accumulatively serve for its clinical application against rheumatoid arthritis.Conclusion:Conclusively, our findings from present study reconnoiters and compacts systematic theoretical approach by utilizing the network pharmacology mechanism of four effective components for the treatment of rheumatism indicating sufficient potential drug targets associated with CFC against rheumatism. These interesting findings entreaties for further in vitro and in vivo studies on the mechanism of compound active ingredient against rheumatism.

The membranes of a pillared-layer structure Metal-Organic Framework (MOF), [Ni(HBTC)(4,4&prime, bipy)] (HBTC = 1,3,5-Benzenetricarboxylic acid, 4,4&prime, bipy = 4,4&prime, bipyridine), have been in situ fabricated on Nickel foam substrate. The orientations of MOF crystals in the membranes can be controlled by the molar ratio of ligand H3BTC to 4,4&prime, bipyridine. Scanning electron microscope images and powder X-ray diffraction patterns were used to characterize the membranes and confirm the orientations of their MOF layers. Control experiments have revealed that the presence of homologous metal element Nickel in both the MOF and the substrate and the presence of the neutral 4,4&prime, bipyridine in the reaction system are necessary for in situ growth of the well-intergrown MOF membranes. This work provides a successful example of directly growing continuous MOF layers on porous metallic substrate with desired orientations by a facile approach.

This essay is about the application of a diode-capacitor network on conventional non-isolated DC–DC converter. The study will focus on obtaining high step-up voltage gain, low switch voltage stress, simple control, and high conversion efficiency. Three single-switch step-up converters with high step-up ratio based on the diode-capacitor network are proposed. The principle of operation and theoretical analysis of every single-switch step-up converter is evaluated for both continuous and discontinuous conduction modes. Given the mirror-symmetrical characteristic of the diode-capacitor network, cascade single-switch step-up converters based on the single-switch positive-output step-up converter are achieved when several diode-capacitor networks are arranged in series. Simulation analysis and experimental results obtained from the implemented prototypes operating at 40 kHz are provided to verify the performances of the proposed step-up converters.

post-print This report examines the effect of substrate design upon the Truce‐Smiles rearrangement, an intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction. The length of the molecular spacer that tethers the carbanion nucleophile to the substituted benzene ring was found to have a strong influence on the ability of the substrate to undergo the reaction successfully. Our experimental results show highest yield of desired aryl migration product for substrates designed with a 3‐atom tether, which proceed through a 5‐membered spirocyclic intermediate. The results are interpreted in comparison with a survey of Truce‐Smiles rearrangements described in the literature and found to be consistent. Computational studies support the observed reactivity trend and suggest an explanation of a favorable combination of ring strain and electrostatic repulsion leading to optimal reactivity of the substrate designed with a 3‐atom tether. Comparison of our results with trends for related ring‐closing reactions illustrate the unique electrostatic features of the system studied herein. "Financial support for this work was provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada (402608‐2011‐RGPIN, 435374‐2013‐RGPIN), the University of Winnipeg, and the Government of Manitoba Career Focus Program. We thank Westgrid and Compute Canada for supercomputing resources." https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/poc.3742

The separation performance of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) relies on their microstructures and composing materials. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of promising materials as porous fillers of composite membranes. However, high quality MOF-based MMMs for water treatment are still in lack. In this study, highly hydrolytic stable MOF crystallites of BUT-8(A) (BUT-8(A) = Cr3 (μ3-O) (H2O)3(NDC(SO3H5/6)2)3, NDC(SO3H)22− = 4,8-disulfonaphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylate) in size of about 30 nm were incorporated into polyethyleneimine (PEI) matrix. Benefited from the excellent dispersibility of BUT-8(A) in water and the good compatibility between the MOF and polymer, a thin and uniform active BUT-8(A)/PEI layer with a high MOF loading (50 wt%) was obtained on a hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile (HPAN) substrate. The BUT-8(A)/PEI-HPAN-50 composite membrane exhibited high water permeances (396–683 L m−2 h−1 MPa−1) and high rejection rates for aqueous dye solutions. In addition, the separation mechanism of resulting membrane was explored and the high water permeance of membrane was attributed to the facilitated molecule transportation through the channels of BUT-8(A) rather than the defects between MOF and polymer. The high separation performance of resulting membrane suggests a promising prospect of MOF based composite membrane for water purification.

The creep characteristics of red layer sliding soil under the condition of different vertical loads and water contents were studied through a series of direct shear creep tests. Tests results showed that the water infiltrated to the sliding zone along the fissure of red layer sliding belt due to the crush of red layer sliding rock, leading to softening of sliding zone and acceleration of shear creep. When the shear stress reached the limit of long-term shear strength, sliding soil was broken suddenly with small vertical loads (50 kPa and 100kPa), while the sliding soil presented as a constant acceleration creep with enough vertical loads (200 kPa and 300 kPa). The inflection point in shear stress-shear displacement isochronous curve corresponded to the long-term strength of the soil.

Introduction In intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients, an effective immobilisation system is important to minimise set up deviation. This study evaluated the effectiveness of three immobilisation systems by assessing their set up deviations. Methods Patients were randomly assigned to one of the three immobilisation systems: (1) supine on head rest and base plate (HB); (2) supine with alpha cradle supporting the head and shoulder (AC); (3) supine with vacuum bag supporting the head and shoulder (VB). CBCT was conducted weekly for each patient on the linear accelerator. Image registration was conducted at the nasopharynx (NP) and cervical regions. The translational displacements (latero-medial, antero-posterior and cranio-caudal), rotational displacements (pitch, yaw and roll) and 3D vectors obtained at the NP and cervical regions were recorded and compared among the three systems. Results The mean translational and rotational deviations were within 3 mm and 2°, respectively, and the range of 3D vector was 1.53–3.47 mm. At the NP region, the AC system demonstrated the smallest translational and rotational deviations and 3D vector. The differences were significant except for the latero-medial, yaw and roll directions. Similarly, at the cervical region, the AC system showed smaller translational and rotational deviations and 3D vector, with only the cranio-caudal and yaw deviations that did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions Set up deviation was greater in the neck than the NP region. The set up accuracy of the AC system was better than the other two systems, and it is recommended for IMRT of NPC patients in our institution.

The preparation conditions in the water system of phenylalanine chelated calcium complex have been evaluated though single-factor tests and optimized by uniform design. Then the optimal parameters were obtained as follows: reaction temperature is 40 °C, reaction time is 182 min, the molar ratio of phenylalanine to calcium is 4.3 and pH = 9.0. Under the best conditions, the experimental result gives chelating rate = 87.40% that is 17.12% lower than the prediction = 104.52%.The infrared spectrum characterization has confirmed the formation of phenylalanine-Ca2+ chelates and the existence of chelate ring.

Thixotropy is an important property possessed by fresh concrete of changing from gel to liquid under shearing stress and returning to the original state when at rest. The thixotropic process is usually described to be an isothermal and static (or quasi-static) gel-sol-gel transformation. Now the thixotropy of concrete subjected to explosive loads became a new subject in research of synchronous explosive lining technology, which offers an advanced trechless method for underground space construction in soil. Because the detonation of explosives is a short-duration process accompanying with high temperature and high pressure, thixotropic behavior of concrete is no longer as same as that of in general meaning. This review summarizes the recent progress in research on explosion induced thixotropy of concrete, including the thixotropic behavior, thixoforming, influence of thixotropic process on microstructure, macrostructure and mechanical performances of concrete and steel fibre reinforced concrete. Additional, some arguments and suggestions for the future research are presented.

Catastrophic failure of rock mass is a kind of serious geological hazard which usually happens during deep mining excavation and underground engineering construction. Though many investigations have confirmed that it was strongly relate to dynamic disturbances, the disturbing mechanism is still not well-known. The purpose of this paper is to offer a theoretical method to analyze dynamic disturbances induced catastrophic failure. On the basis of synergetic analysis, we established a generalized Langevin equation to describe the nonlinear evolution process of rock mass by considering stochastic dynamic disturbances. Then we further derived a stochastic potential function to research the inductive effect of dynamic disturbances and critical property of catastrophic failure. Results indicate that the influence of dynamic disturbances on the stability of rock mass depends on both the static state of rock mass and the external disturbance intensity. The catastrophic failure threshold is the function of disturbance intensity and control parameters of rock mass.

Interspecies nuclear transfer is an invaluable tool for studying nucleus-cytoplasm interactions; and at the same time, it provides a possible alternative to clone animals whose oocytes are difficult to obtain. In the present study, we investigated the possibility of cloning cat embryos using rabbit oocytes, and compared the developmental capacity; the timing of embryogenesis of the cat-rabbit cloned embryos with that of the cat-cat or the rabbit-rabbit cloned embryos. When cultured in M199, the rate of blastocyst formation of the cat-rabbit embryos was 6.9%, which was not significantly different than that of the cat-cat embryos (10.5%). However, the rate of blastocyst formation of rabbit-rabbit embryos (22.9%) was significantly greater than that of both the cat-rabbit and the cat-cat embryos (P < 0.05). The timing of the first three cleavages for the cat-rabbit embryos was similar to that of the rabbit-rabbit embryos, but significantly faster than that of the cat-cat embryos (P < 0.05), while the time to form blastocysts was similar to that of cat-cat embryos, but significantly slower than that of the rabbit-rabbit embryos (P < 0.05). Both M199 and SOF medium were evaluated for culturing cat-rabbit embryos; the rate of blastocyst formation in SOF (14.5%) was significantly greater than that in M199 (6.9%) (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that: (1) the cat-rabbit embryos possess equal developmental capacity as cat-cat embryos; (2) the timing of the first three cleavages for the cat-rabbit embryos is recipient-specific, while the time to form blastocysts is donor nucleus-specific; and (3) SOF medium may be beneficial to overcome the morula-to-blastocyst block for cat-rabbit cloned embryos.

Somatic cell nuclei of giant pandas can dedifferentiate in enucleated rabbit ooplasm, and the reconstructed eggs can develop to blastocysts. In order to observe whether these interspecies cloned embryos can implant in the uterus of an animal other than the panda, we transferred approximately 2300 panda-rabbit cloned embryos into 100 synchronized rabbit recipients, and none became pregnant. In another approach, we cotransferred both panda-rabbit and cat-rabbit interspecies cloned embryos into the oviducts of 21 cat recipients. Fourteen recipients exhibited estrus within 35 days; five recipients exhibited estrus 43‐48 days after embryo transfer; and the other two recipients died of pneumonia, one of which was found to be pregnant with six early fetuses when an autopsy was performed. Microsatellite DNA analysis of these early fetuses confirmed that two were from giant panda-rabbit cloned embryos. The results demonstrated that panda-rabbit cloned embryos can implant in the uterus of a third species, the domestic cat. By using mitochondrial-specific probes of panda and rabbit, we found that mitochondria from both panda somatic cells and rabbit ooplasm coexisted in early blastocysts, but mitochondria from rabbit ooplasm decreased, and those from panda donor cells dominated in early fetuses after implantation. Our results reveal that mitochondria from donor cells may substitute those from recipient oocytes in postimplanted, interspecies cloned embryos. developmental biology, early development, embryo, implantation, pregnancy

To investigate the risk factors of prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and to provide a reference for effective control measure.A retrospective study was conducted. All data of patients with post CABG admitted to the Department of Critical Care Medicine of the First People's Hospital in Yichang from January 2008 to January 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The CABG patients staying in ICU more than 3 days served as observation group, and the patients staying in ICU less than 3 days were the control group. Potential risk factors in both groups were compared, and multivariable non-condition logistic regressions analysis was adopted to determine the independent risk factors which resulted in prolonged stay in ICU after CABG.Sixty-eight patients underwent CABG were analyzed retrospectively. Twenty-four cases (35.29%) had prolonged stay in ICU after CABG. Univariate analysis showed that the risk factors of prolonged stay in ICU after CABG were low cardiac output, arrhythmia, postoperative respiratory failure, postoperative acute renal failure, emergency operation, and left atrial inner diameter. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factor of prolonged stay in ICU after CABG was the postoperative respiratory failure [odds ratio (OR)=6.856, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.322 - 35.559, P0.05].The independent risk factor of prolonged stay in ICU after CABG was postoperative respiratory failure. By monitoring the risk factors, duration of stay in ICU after CABG can be decreased.

In order to investigate the effects of different kinds of nuclear recipients from Kunming (KM) mouse on developmental potential of somatic nuclear transfer embryos, the enucleated M II oocytes, enucleated zygotes and 2-cell blastomere were used to produce cloned mouse embryos. Using fibroblast deriving from C57/BL6 ear tissue as nuclear donor, we produced cloned embryos by transferring the fibroblast nuclei into enucleated KM mouse oocytes (single nuclear transfer, SNT), transferring pronuclei from the SNT embryos into enucleated KM zygotes (nuclear into zygote, NZ), and 2-cell blastomere nuclei from SNT embryos into enucleated KM mouse oocytes (nuclear into oocytes, NO); tetraploid embryos (tetraploid embryos, TE) were obtained by fusing two blastomeres, one is from the SNT cloned embryos, and the other from normal 2-cell KM mouse embryos. In group SNT, the cloned embryos could not develop beyond 8-cell stage and the rate of 8-cell stage is only 0.3%; in group NO, the reconstructed embryos could develop to morula stage, the rate of 8-cell stage was significantly greater than that of SNT group (P < 0.05); in group NZ, the development rate was further improved, and the reconstructed embryos could develop into blastocyst stage, the rate of blastocyst was 1.9%; in group TE, as high as 62.3% of the reconstructed embryos could develop into blastocyst. Results suggested that different nuclear recipients could significantly affect the developmental potential of cloned mouse embryos; KM M II oocyte cytoplasm was not so effective as zygotes to reprogram the mouse somatic cell nuclei; serial nuclear transfer could improve the developmental potential of cloned mouse embryos.

To investigate the risk factors of nosocomial infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in intensive care unit (ICU), in order to provide reference for an effective measure of infection control.A retrospective study of cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection occurring in ICU was made with multivariable Logistic regression analysis. The clinical data of 1 950 cases admitted from January 2002 to December 2006 were found to have nosocomial infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa were analyzed in order to identify its independent risk factors.Sixty-four out of 1 950 patients were found to suffer from nosocomial infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the morbidity rate was 3.3%. At the same time, and in the same department, 37 patients suffering from infection caused by Escherichia coli, served as control group. Univariate analysis showed that the risk factors for nosocomial infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the use of corticosteroid, unconsciousness or craniocerebral trauma, abdominal surgery, thorax/abdomen drainage tube, mechanical ventilation, and tracheostomy [the use of corticosteroid: odds ratio (OR)=3.364, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.445-7.830; unconsciousness or craniocerebral trauma: OR=4.026, 95%CI 1.545-10.490; abdominal surgery: OR=0.166, 95%CI 0.068-0.403; thorax/abdomen drainage tube: OR=0.350, 95%CI 0.150-0.818; tracheostomy: OR=4.095, 95%CI 1.638-10.740]. Multivariate analysis showed that the independent risk factors of nosocomial infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in ICU were: the use of corticosteroid and mechanical ventilation [the use of corticosteroid: OR=3.143, 95%CI 1.115-8.856; mechanical ventilation: OR=3.195, 95%CI 1.607-6.353, P0.05 and P0.01].The independent risk factors of nosocomial infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in ICU are the use of corticosteroid and mechanical ventilation. Measures should be taken to take care of the risk factors in order to prevent nosocomial infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in ICU.

To compare clinical outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle by using fresh and cryopreserved-thawed testicular and epididymal spermatozoa in azoospermic patients.Between September 2006 and May 2007, 208 azoospermic patients underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) were treated in Center of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital. Those couples were divided into two groups based on their wishes, including 171 cases in fresh group and 37 cases in cryopreserved-thawed group. The cryopreserved testicular or epididymal spermatozoa were thawed and recovered before ICSI procedure in thawed group. The outcomes of ICSI in each group were compared, including clinical outcomes (two pronuclear fertilization, high quality embryo, clinical pregnancy and embryo implantation) and pregnancy outcomes (spontaneous miscarriage, gestational weeks and neonatal birth weight).(1) The utilization rate were 92% (23/25) in cryopreserved-thawed testicular spermatozoa and 100% (12/12) in epididymal spermatozoa. (2) Between fresh and cryopreserved-thawed groups, no statistical difference was observed in two pronuclear fertilization rate [62.25% (973/1563) vs. 64.53% (282/437), P = 0.960], high quality embryo rate [78.9% (768/973) vs. 79.1% (223/282), P = 0.985], clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer [44.4% (60/135) vs. 46.9% (15/32), P = 0.688] and embryo implantation rate [29.3% (84/287) vs. 33.3% (23/69), P = 0.508]. (3) No significant difference between fresh and cryopreserved group was found in spontaneous miscarriage rate (11% vs.7%, P = 1.000), gestational weeks (single birth: 39.0 weeks vs.38.7 weeks, P = 0.538; twins: 36.8 weeks vs.36.3 weeks, P = 0.571) and birth weight (single birth: 3409 g vs.3350 g, P = 0.699; twins: 2584 g vs. 2635 g, P = 0.703).It suggested that tissue from the azoospermic patients who underwent diagnostic testicular and epididymal biopsy should be cryopreseved for IVF-ET.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) may help to diminish radiation-induced normal tissue damage and improve quality of life of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. However, highly conformal treatment techniques commonly establish steep dose gradients between tumor and normal tissues, therefore, daily setup variations can significantly compromise the ultimate precision of idealized IMRT delivery. This study was to investigate the setup accuracy of thermoplastic masks used for immobilizing NPC patients treated by simultaneous integrated boost IMRT, and to determine adequate margins to account for those uncertainties.Nineteen patients with early stage (T1-2N0M0) NPC received CT scan weekly during their 6-week treatment course of fractionated IMRT. A total of 85 scanning parameters were obtained. The differences in anatomic landmark coordinates in 3-dimensional directions between daily setup and the first day setup were calculated through comparing the CT images with Osiris software.Mean target isocenter translation was (0.89+/-0.69) mm in x-direction, (0.82+/-0.79) mm in y-direction, and (0.95+/-1.24) mm in z-direction. The systematic errors were 0.94 mm, 1.00 mm, and 1.32 mm. The random errors were 0.87 mm, 0.80 mm, and 1.04 mm. The mean total magnitude vector of isocenter motion was 1.87 mm; the 95% confidence interval (CI) was 2.03-7.24 mm.During IMRT for early stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma, setting appropriate margin of planning target volume (PTV) by widening 3 mm from clinical target volume (CTV) in x, y, z directions will be sufficient to compensate for the dosimetric uncertainty of target areas due to patient setup error. The measured data in the present study should enable the user of this kind of thermoplastic mask to assign appropriate margins for the generation of planning target volumes (PTVs).

Interspecies cloning may be used as an effective method to conserve highly endangered species and to support the development of non-human primate animal models for studying therapeutic cloning and nuclear-cytoplasm interaction. The use of the monkey model for biomedical research can avoid legal, ethical, and experimental limitations encountered in a clinical situation. We describe in this study the in vitro development of macaca-rabbit embryos produced by fusing macaca fibroblasts with enucleated rabbit oocytes and examine the fate of mitochondrial DNA in these embryos. We show that macaca-rabbit cloned embryos can develop to the blastocyst stage when cultured in vitro in HECM(10) +10% FBS and that mitochondrial DNA derived from donor somatic cells was detectable in cloned embryos throughout preimplantation development. These results suggest that (1) macaca fibroblast nuclei can dedifferentiate in enucleated metaphase II rabbit oocytes; (2) HECM(10) +10% FBS can break through the development block and support the development of macaca-rabbit cloned embryos to blastocysts; and (3) donor-cell-derived mitochondrial DNA is not eliminated until blastocyst stage.

In order to study the effects of different donor cells and passages on development of nuclear transfer embryos, we constructed embryos by electrofusing several kinds of donor cells into enucleated M II oocytes from Kun Ming (KM) mouse. These cells include 2-cell embryonic blastomeres, KMW embryonic stem (ES) cells, fetal fibroblast, ear fibroblast, tail tip fibroblast, sertoil cells and spermatogonia. Meanwhile, we compared the effects of passage numbers of fetal fibroblast cells on developmental competency after nuclear transfer. We found that 7.4% of reconstructed embryos from 2-cell embryonic blastomeres and 0.7% from ES cell could develop to blastocyst in vitro; embryos from fetal fibroblast could only develop to morula stage with the rate of 0.2%; embryos from spermatogonia could only develop to 8-cell stage and the rate was 0.3%; embryos respectively from ear fibroblast, sertoli cell and tail tip fibroblast could only develop to 4-cell stage. Although 2-cell development rate of embryos reconstructed from fetal fibroblast in first passage was significantly lower than those from the 2nd, the 3rd and the 4th passage, embryos from different passages could develop to 8-cell stage except the 3rd passage. The result indicated that it is more difficult for terminally differentiated cell nuclei to be reprogrammed in enucleated M II oocytes than for low differentiated cell nuclei. The reason of low development rate from ES cells maybe that most of ES cells was at S stage of the cell cycle, which out of coordination with M II oocytes. We could conclude that culture and passage of donor cells might be benefit to nucleus reprogramming.