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Chemical additives of magnesium chloride (MaC) and ferrous sulfate (FS) were investigated in sewage sludge composting. A treatment without chemical additive was used as the control group (CK). The effects of MaC and FS on ammonia (NH3) and greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O and CH4) emissions were evaluated. The results showed that the addition of MaC and FS promoted the degradation of organic matter and increased the ammonium concentration of the compost product. The maximum pH values decreased from 8.98 (CK) to 8.49 and 8.0 in MaC and FS treatments, respectively. In addition, the NH3 emission for the MaC and FS treatments reduced by 58.3 % and 82.9 %, respectively, whereas the methane (CH4) emission decreased by 22.9 % and 24.9 %, respectively. However, in FS treatment, the carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions were higher than those in CK. Furthermore, the FS treatment exhibited lower germination index values (71.4 %) and higher electrical conductivity (6.62 mS/cm). Therefore, MaC is suggested as an additive for reducing greenhouse gas emission and conserving nitrogen during sewage sludge composting.

Background To develop a nomogram to predict cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with metastatic testicular germ cell tumors (mTGCTs). Methods Data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to identify factors associated with CSS. Survival times between different groups were compared using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the log-rank test. A nomogram visualization model was established using the R language to predict survival rates. Harrell’s concordance index (C-index), the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration plots were used to assess the performance of the model. Results We analyzed the data of 949 patients. The median follow-up time was 32 months (range 0 to 83 months), and 224 (23.60%) patients died before the last follow-up, of whom 193 (20.33%) died of mTGCTs. The site of distant metastases was an independent prognostic factor for CSS. Compared to patients without involvement of the corresponding organ, patients with bone, brain, liver, and lung involvement had worse CSS. We also found that age, histological type, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, metastatic site and insurance status affected the CSS of patients with mTGCTs. We used these prognostic factors to construct our nomogram. Harrell’s C-index for CSS was 0.739. The AUC and calibration plots indicated good performance of the nomogram. Conclusions A nomogram for predicting CSS in patients with mTGCTs has been developed, which can help patients and clinicians accurately predict mortality risk and recommend personalized treatment modalities.

Background To develop a nomogram for predicting cancer-specific survival (CSS) of patients with non-metastatic primary adenocarcinoma of the bladder (NMACB). Methods We used a retrospective cohort study design. Patient data were obtained from the SEER database, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with CSS. A nomogram visualization model was established using R language software to predict survival rate. Harrell’s concordance index (C-index), area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) in addition to calibration plots were used to assess the performance of the model. Results A total of 1,635 patients were included in the study. A multivariate Cox regression model indicated that age, histological type, grade, stage, and surgery were independent covariates associated with CSS. Using these prognostic factors, a nomogram was constructed. Harrell’s C indices for CSS were 0.729 in the training cohort and 0.716 in the validation cohort. AUC values were 0.769, 0.735 and 0.724 for 1, 3, and 5-year in the training cohort, and 0.738, 0.727 and 0.713 for 1, 3 and 5-year in the validation cohort, respectively. The AUC values and calibration plots indicated that the nomogram provided good predictive performance. Conclusions A nomogram for predicting CSS in patients with NMACB was developed to assist clinicians in the accurate prediction of mortality risk to allow them to recommend a personalized treatment modality.

Promoting angiogenesis to restore circulation to the ischemic tissue is still an important therapeutic target in stroke. Here, we ask whether the Ca2+-regulated, phospholipid-and membrane-binding protein-Annexin A2 (ANXA2) may regulate angiogenesis after stroke.Compared with wild type (WT) mice, the density of microvessels in brain and the number of new vessels sprouting from aortic ring were significantly increased in Anxa2 knock-in (ANXA2+/+) mice. After focal cerebral ischemia, proliferation of brain endothelial cells in ANXA2+/+ mice was significantly elevated at 7 days post-stroke, which further improved behavioral recovery. To assess the pro-angiogenic mechanisms of ANXA2, we used brain endothelial cells cultures to investigate its effects on cell tube-formation and migration. Recombinant ANXA2 increased tube-formation and migration of brain endothelial cells either under normal condition or after OGD injury. These protective effects of recombinant ANXA2 were regulated by interaction with ANXA2 receptor (A2R), and the ability of ANXA2-A2R to activate AKT/ERK pathways. Taken together, our study indicates that ANXA2 might be involved in angiogenesis after ischemic stroke. Further investigation of ANXA2-A2R will provide a new therapeutic target for stroke.

The environmental and agricultural monitoring system used the Internet of Things (IoT) Technologies and computer vision to tackle the agriculture sector problems by using an actual farm site and real-time crops monitoring solution as a test bed. Various types of data are placed everywhere in the farm to monitor the crops and environment 24/7, as well as measuring plant’s growth rate and healthiness using computer vision. This system addressed considerations and limitations of the agriculture sector by using the industrial standard devices to ensure it can sustain under extreme environment. Data is considered as a rich asset in this era, the data collected will be processed into comprehensive information and visualized in an easy understandable user interface. Overall, this system serves the farmers with the precise past and real-time environment data, giving the farmers to have an overview of their farm environment and lead to better strategic decisions.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of highly conserved pattern recognition receptors that can recognize both pathogen-associated molecular patterns and danger-associated molecular patterns. These receptors are important in the activation of the innate immune system and play a role in shaping the adaptive immune system. For years, the expression of TLRs in the brain has been proposed to contribute to the immunological protection of the central nervous system. However, emerging studies have provided increasing evidence of non-immune functions of TLRs and suggest that these receptors may participate in more complex processes that extend beyond the regulation of the innate immune response. In this review, we highlight the expression of TLRs in non-immune cells and epitomize TLR non-immune functions. We aim to reveal the novel roles of TLRs that are distinct from their traditional functions in immunity. Negative regulatory approaches used to study TLR signaling pathways are also discussed, providing potential directions for further studies.

Supplemental Material, sj-pdf-1-tct-10.1177_15330338211004914 for Prognostic Value of Site-Specific Metastases and Therapeutic Roles of Surgery and Chemotherapy for Patients With Metastatic Renal Pelvis Cancer: A SEER Based Study by Wei-Kang Chen, Zhi-Gang Wu, Yun-Bei Xiao, Qin-Quan Wang, Dong-Dong Yu, Jian Cai and Chao-Feng Zhou in Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment

BACKGROUND: To examine the association between age at diagnosis and cancer-specific mortality (CSM) in primary urachal adenocarcinoma. METHODS: The data was obtained from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (SEER). A total of 393 patients were included in the study. Smooth curve fitting and two-piecewise Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify the nonlinearity between the age at initial diagnosis and cancer-specific survival rate. Survival time between different groups was compared using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the log-rank test. RESULTS: Using smooth curve fitting we found that the relationship between age at diagnosis and cancer-specific survival takes on a U-shaped curve. The inflection point that we identified for the age at initial diagnosis was 60 years. The log-likelihood ratio test (P60 years, increased risk of CSM was significantly associated with increased age (HR: 1.05, P=0.0499). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our study suggested that the relationship between age at diagnosis and cancer-specific survival is nonlinear, and takes on a U-shaped curve. Both younger and older age at initial diagnosis age were associated with increased CSM.

To investigate the status quo of the diagnosis and treatment of male urethritis (MU) in urology and andrology.According to The Guidelines for Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (2017), we designed 27 questions on the prevalence, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of MU. Using these questions, we conducted a questionnaire investigation among urological, andrological and other relevant clinicians with different professional titles, followed by an analysis of the compliance of the doctors to the Guidelines.Totally, 116 valid questionnaires were collected from 86 urological, 28 andrological and 2 other relevant doctors, including 22 professors, 36 associate professors, 40 attending doctors and 16 resident doctors. MU was found mostly in those aged 20－40 years and more than half of the patients had a history of unclean sex, gonococcal urethritis significantly less prevalent than non-gonococcal, with Ureaplasma urealyticum as the most common pathogen of non-gonococcal urethritis. As for the compliance to the Guidelines in the diagnosis of MU, 22.73% of the professors, 16.67% of the associate professors, 15.00% of the attending doctors and 12.50% of the resident doctors examined the eyes, mouth and perianus (P0.05), 40.91% of the professors, 58.33% of the associate professors, 40.00% of the attending doctors and 37.50% of the resident doctors conducted HIV and syphilis screening (P0.05), and 86.36% of the professors, 77.78% of the associate professors, 70.00% of the attending doctors and 75.00% of the resident doctors performed genital mycoplasma screening (P0.05). Concerning the treatment of MU, 50.00% of the professors, 47.22% of the associate professors, 22.50% of the attending doctors and 43.75% of the resident doctors used anti-Chlamydia trachomatis drugs for gonococcal urethritis (P0.05), 0.00% of the professors, 11.11% of the associate professors, 5.00% of the attending doctors and 31.25% of the resident doctors prescribed 1g single-dose oral azithromycin for non-gonococcal urethritis (P0.05), 13.64% of the professors, 33.33% of the associate professors, 17.50% of the attending doctors and 6.25% of the resident doctors medicated persistent or recurrent non-gonococcal urethritis for4 weeks (P0.05), 63.64% of the professors, 83.33% of the associate professors, 57.50% of the attending doctors and 62.50% of the resident doctors treated asymptomatic trachomatis and mycoplasma infections according to the proposed medication in the Guidelines (P0.05). As regards the results of treatment, the cure rate of gonococcal urethritis was 100.00% by professors, 97.22% by associate professors, 95.00% by attending doctors and 81.25% by resident doctors (P0.05), and that of non-gonococcal urethritis was 86.36% by professors, 61.11% by associate professors, 62.50% by attending doctors and 37.50% by resident doctors (P0.05).Urological and andrological clinicians do not strictly follow the Guidelines in the diagnosis and treatment of male urethritis. There are significant differences in the dosing of azithromycin and results of treatment of non-gonococcal urethritis among doctors with different professional titles, but not in the other aspects.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels are closely associated with diabetes-related erectile dysfunction (DMED). Mitochondrial ATP synthase serves a key role in ATP production. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between F1-ATP synthase and DMED in vivo and in vitro. The F1-ATP synthase expression levels in corpus cavernosum tissues from rats with DMED were examined. F1-ATP synthase expression was found to be lower in corpus cavernosum tissues from rats with DMED compared with healthy controls, suggesting a role for ATP synthase under high glucose conditions. In addition, the present study also demonstrated that hyperglycemia could downregulate F1-ATP synthase expression in rat corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) in vitro. The overexpression of F1-ATP synthase in CCSMCs influenced the phenotypic CCSMC transformation, upregulated eNOS expression, increased cGMP levels and reduced CCSMC apoptosis under high glucose in vitro. In conclusion, the present study indicates that the upregulation of mitochondrial ATP synthase expression may improve CCSMC function, suggesting that mitochondrial ATP synthase could serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of DMED.

To investigate the effects of low-dose PDE5 inhibitors on metabolic parameters and erectile function in ED patients with subclinical metabolic syndrome (SCMS).Totally, 132 ED patients, aged 21－61 (mean 34.5) years, were treated in the Andrology Clinic of the First Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from April 2017 to May 2018. According to the diagnostic criteria, we divided the patients into groups A (simple ED, n = 40), B (ED with SCMS, n = 34) and C (ED with MS, n = 58) to receive 3 months of oral administration of tadalafil at 5 mg qd at bedtime, and followed them up for 3 months after drug withdrawal. During the treatment, we advised the patients to keep a healthy diet, change bad habits, participate in regular physical exercise, and maintain psychological balance. Before and right after medication and at 3 months after drug withdrawal, we recorded the changes in the IIEF-5 scores, abdominal circumference, blood pressure and levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) of the patients.The IIEF-5 scores showed statistically significant differences at different time points between groups A and C (P0.01), remarkably higher right after treatment than before treatment and at 3 months after drug withdrawal in group B (19.71 ± 2.40 vs 10.21 ± 3.92 and 16.29 ± 2.41, P0.01). At 3 months after drug withdrawal, the abdominal circumference was significantly smaller in group A than in B and C (［78.10 ± 6.00］ vs ［84.15 ± 8.17］ and ［91.53 ± 11.49］ cm, P0.01) and the HDL level lower in group C than in A and B (［0.96 ± 0.15］ vs ［1.27 ± 0.14］ and ［1.16 ± 0.2］] mmol/L, P0.01). Systolic blood pressure exhibited statistically significant differences between any two time points in group C (P0.05 or P0.01) but not in group A (P0.05) or B (P0.05). Diastolic blood pressure was markedly lower in group B right after medication and at 3 months after drug withdrawal than before treatment (［75.62 ± 10.70］ and ［74.65 ± 9.90］ vs ［78.00 ± 11.42］ mmHg, P0.05), and so was it in group C (［82.19 ± 10.36］ and ［82.40 ± 10.09］ vs ［86.71 ± 12.32］ mmHg, P0.05), but manifested no significant difference between any two time points in group A (P0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the FBS level among different time points in groups A and C (P0.05) but not in B between post-treatment and 3 months after drug withdrawal (［5.34 ± 0.60］ vs ［5.36 ± 0.40］ mmol/L, P0.05), and so were there in the TG level among different time points in groups A and C (P0.05) but not in B between pre- and post-treatment (［1.80 ± 0.98］ vs ［1.64 ± 1.19］ mmol/L, P0.05).Periodic administration of low-dose sustained-release PDE5 inhibitors with health education and lifestyle guidance may reverse ED with SCMS and improve most of the related metabolic parameters.

Carvacryl acetate (CA) is a semisynthetic monoterpenic ester obtained from essential oils, and it exerts an antioxidation effect. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether CA could provide neuroprotection against oxidative stress caused by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced damage was established in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats and PC12 cells were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to imitate oxidative stress damage. TTC, HE and Nissl staining were used to observe the pathological morphology of lesions. The contents of ROS and MDA, and the activity of SOD were measured to reflect the level of oxidative stress. In addition, the TUNEL method was used to assess injuries in vitro, and the expression of Nrf2 was determined by immunohistochemical staining and western blot analysis. Importantly, we constructed and validated Nrf2 knockdown PC12 cells to confirm the key role of Nrf2 in the neuroprotective effect of CA against oxidative stress injuries. CA alleviated CIRI in rats with MCAO, as shown by brain tissue pathophysiology. The contents of ROS and MDA were reduced, and the SOD activity was augmented by the simultaneous promotion of Nrf2 expression. In addition, the H2O2-induced injury in Nrf2-knockdown PC12 cells was more serious than it was in control cells, and CA-mediated neuroprotection was exclusively inhibited by the knock down of Nrf2 in PC12 cells. In conclusion, it is shown here that CA has the effect of relieving cerebral ischemia reperfusion-induced oxidative stress injury via the Nrf2 signalling pathway.

Purpose To investigate the neuroprotective effects of insulin on diabetic encephalopathy and its mechanism. Experimental and approach The diabetic model was established by injection of streptozotocin. Behavior examinations were conducted by the Morris water maze. Histopathological alterations were detected by HE staining. ROS, CAT levels and SOD activity were measured using a microplate reader. In vitro, the viability of wild type and knock-down PC12 cells was detected by MTT assay, the morphology of cells was monitored under a microscope. The subcellular distribution of Nrf2 was observed by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Key results Evident oxidative stress injury was observed in diabetic rats and H2O2-induced PC12 cells. Insulin not only protect diabetic rat from oxidative stress injury but also significantly inhibited H2O2-induced apoptosis and intracellular ROS in cells. In addition, the level of malondialdehyde was reduced, and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were augmented in both diabetic rats and PC12 cells. Interestingly, insulin promoted the translocation of Nrf2 into the nucleus and activation of downstream antioxidant protein expression. Further, the Nrf2 knockdown cells suffered more serious H2O2-induced damage than the wild PC12 cells. Moreover, insulin had no significant protective effect on knockdown cells with H2O2-damage. Conclusion and implications Collectively, our results suggested that insulin significantly inhibited neuronal damage through the Nrf2 signaling pathway, which regulates endogenous oxidant-antioxidant balance, therefore, insulin may be a potential protective agent for the treatment of oxidative stress-induced diabetic encephalopathy.

To investigate the neuroprotective effect of edaravone was dependent on 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) signalling pathway or not. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) were established in SD rats and PC12 cells to mimic ischemic injury. In vivo, edaravone can significantly reduce neurological deficit scores, infarct volume, ROS level and expression of 5-LOX. For in vitro experiment, reduced viability, cell death which occurred via necrosis and apoptosis were shown after OGD and even severer in OGD-reperfusion (OGD-R). Interestingly, edaravone (0.01, 0.1, 1 μmol/L) and caffeic acid (5-LOX inhibitor) can dramatically attenuate OGD/OGD-R injuries. Profoundly, mitochondrial transmembrane potential was ameliorated and cristae membranes (detected by electron microscope) were swollen in OGD/OGD-R cells; however, edaravone preserved the normal ultrastructure of mitochondria and reduced ROS. Astonishingly, immunohistochemistry analyses showed that 5-LOX was first located in the cytosol, dendrites and nuclei of control cells and then translocated to the nuclear membrane after OGD/OGD-R, which indicated the activation of 5-LOX pathway. Edaravone and caffeic acid can inhibit 5-LOX translocation to the nuclear membrane after OGD/OGD-R and reduce cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs), which are metabolites of 5-LOX. Our results are the first to indicate that the protective action of edaravone may function, at least in part, by inhibiting 5-LOX activation, maintaining the ultrastructure and integrated function of mitochondria, thus protecting neuronal cells from ischemia. Furthermore, the instability of mitochondria may be another critical factor in 5-LOX activation.

Neuroinflammation is a key factor of the pathology of various neurological diseases (brain injury, depression, neurodegenerative diseases). It is a complex and orderly process that relies on various types of glial cells and peripheral immune cells. Inhibition of neuroinflammation can reduce the severity of neurological diseases. The initiation, progression, and termination of inflammation require gene activation, epigenetic modification, transcriptional translation, and post-translational regulation, all of which are tightly regulated by different enzymes. Epigenetics refers to the regulation of epigenetic gene expression by epigenetic changes (DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs such as miRNA) that are not dependent on changes in gene sequence and are heritable. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a group of important enzymes that regulate epigenetics. They can remove the acetyl group on the lysine ϵ-amino group of the target protein, thereby affecting gene transcription or altering protein activity. HDACs are involved in the regulation of immunity and inflammation. HDAC inhibitor (HDACi) has also become a new hotspot in the research of anti-inflammatory drugs. Therefore, the aim of the current review is to discuss and summarize the role and mechanism of different HDACs in neuroinflammation and the corresponding role of HDACi in neurological diseases, and to providing new ideas for future research on neuroinflammation-related diseases and drug development.

The wide adoption of social media has increased the interaction among different pieces of information, and this interaction includes cooperation and competition for our finite attention. While previous research focus on fully competition, this paper extends the interaction to be both “cooperation” and “competition”, by employing an I S 1 S 2 R model. To explore how two different pieces of information interact with each other, the I S 1 S 2 R model splits the agents into four parts-(Ignorant-Spreader I-Spreader II-Stifler), based on SIR epidemic spreading model. Using real data from Weibo.com , a social network site similar to Twitter, we find some parameters, like decaying rates, can both influence the cooperative diffusion process and the competitive process, while other parameters, like infectious rates only have influence on the competitive diffusion process. Besides, the parameters’ effect are more significant in the competitive diffusion than in the cooperative diffusion.

To study the interannual variations of chemical composition and source apportionment, a field campaign was carried out to collect the PM

In order to explore the characteristics of PM