Perspectives of women experiencing Menorrhagia: A descriptive qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the perspectives and support needs of women experiencing menorrhagia in Singapore. BACKGROUND: Women with menorrhagia lack awareness regarding the severity of menorrhagia. There is a dearth of literature understanding the support needs of women with menorrhagia. DESIGN: A descriptive qualitative study design was adopted. The Consolidated crieteria for Reportig Qualitative Research (COREQ) was used to report the findings of this study. METHODS: The study was conducted at a tertiary public hospital in Singapore from July 2017-October 2017. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 16 women who were diagnosed with menorrhagia. The total number of interviews was concluded based on data saturation. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview transcripts. The COREQ was used to report the findings of this study. RESULTS: Participants reported that they were unaware about menorrhagia and its severity. Various internal and external factors influenced the participants' awareness and understanding of menorrhagia. Although the participants received support to cope with menorrhagia, the support was deemed insufficient. The women shared that menorrhagia had affected their lives physically, emotionally, socially and financially. They used both external and internal coping mechanisms to cope with their conditions and looked for information through close contacts and the Internet. They longed to learn more about their conditions. CONCLUSION: Multiethnic Singaporean women with menorrhagia lacked awareness about their conditions and the severity, which affected their lives negatively. There should be greater efforts to raise the public's awareness of menorrhagia so that women can seek medical help early and minimise its negative influence on their lives. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Healthcare providers need to pay greater attention to menorrhagia in order to provide more holistic care and support for those experiencing this condition. Healthcare professionals should understand their patients' experiences with menorrhagia and evaluate their current support resources in order to create a strong support system.

Characteristics and Impact Factors of Renal Threshold for Glucose Excretion in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are newly developed but promising medicine for type 2 diabetes. However, patients with a different renal threshold for glucose excretion (RT(G)) may have a different reaction to this medicine. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of RT(G) and its impact factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The clinical and laboratory data of 36 healthy individuals and 168 in-hospital patients with T2DM were collected and analyzed, RT(G) was calculated using blood glucose (BG) measured by dynamic BG monitoring, urinary glucose excretion (UGE) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The characteristics of RT(G) were investigated. The risk factors for high RT(G) were analyzed using non-conditional logistic regression analysis. Our results found that RT(G) of the T2DM group was higher than that of the healthy individuals (P < 0.05); and 22.22% from the healthy individuals group but 58.33% from the T2DM group had high RT(G). Age, duration of diabetes, body mass index (BMI), and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were independently associated with high RT(G) (P < 0.05). Further stratified analysis revealed that RT(G) in T2DM patients increased with age, duration of diabetes, and BMI. In conclusion, RT(G) is increased in patients with T2DM, especially in those with longer diabetic duration, higher BMI, and those who are older. Therefore, these patients may be more sensitive to SGLT-2 inhibitors.

[Transglutaminase-based antibody-drug conjugation: antibody site-specific mutation and identification].

Transglutaminase (TG) posttranslational modification of antibody permits more precisely conjugating. Based on the amino acid sequence of an anti-CD24 antibody (cG7), this article is aimed to generate a deglycosylated cG7 mutant (cG7Q). Firstly, we introduced additional glutamines at position 297 (N297Q) by site-directed mutagenesis, and then transfected the recombinant plasmids into CHO-s cells via electroporation method and screened by Dot blot assay. Subsequently, cG7Q was expressed and purified through Protein A affinity chromatography, further identified by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and Western blot. Its affinity was detected with surface plasmon resonance and flow cytometry assay, and ADCC effect was determined by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Eventually, a cG7 mutant, cG7Q was successfully expressed with sequence-specific conjugation sites for further study.

Bis(dicyanamido-κN)[tris-(3-amino-propyl)amine-κ(4) N]nickel(II).

In the title complex, [Ni(C2N3)2(C9H24N4)], the Ni(II) atom is coordinated in a distorted octa-hedral geometry by one tris-(3-amino-prop-yl)amine (tris-apa) ligand and two dicyanamide (dca) ligands [one of them disordered in a 0.681 (19):0319 (19) ratio]. Inter-molecular N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds involving the N atoms of the dca anions and the tris-apa amine H atoms result in the formation of a three-dimensional network.

[The tendency of prevalence of hypertension in two countries in Gansu province from 1990 to 2012].

OBJECTIVE: To study the variation tendency of hypertension in two rural areas in Gansu, and provide epidemiological evidence to evaluate the hypertension of rural residents. METHODS: Using equidistant random sampling method and cross-sectional sentinel monitoring, two remote natural villages, Yangzhuang and Xiangming, at Yellow river and Yangtze river valley were selected as hypertension monitoring site. From 1990 to 2012, clinical examination to the resident above 18 years old was carried out continuously for 23 years, 11 164 cases were included. RESULTS: Hypertension prevalence of tested cases increased with years, Yangzhuang monitoring site increased from 6.9% (16/232) in 1990 to 36.7% (216/597) in 2012 with an increase of 29.8%, and Xiangming monitoring site increased from 3.4% (16/474) in 1995 to 20.6% (120/582) in 2011 with an increase of 17.2%. Total prevalence of Yangzhuang (24.1%, 1505/6240) was significantly higher than Xiangming (11.4%, 578/4924) (χ(2) = 277.9, P < 0.01). Total hypertension prevalence of 18 - 35 years old group was 9.9% (292/2944) in Yangzhuang and 4.2% (63/1495) in Xiangming, Yangzhuang was higher than Xiangming (χ(2) = 43.7, P < 0.01). Total hypertension prevalence of above 35 years old group was 36.8% (1213/3296) in Yangzhuang and 14.1% (515/3429) in Xiangming, Yangzhuang was higher than Xiangming (χ(2) = 417.7, P < 0.01). The growth rates of hypertension prevalence in 18 - 35 years old group of both areas (Yangzhuang: 823.5%, Xiangming: 614.3%) were higher than 35 years old group (Yangzhuang:310.5%, Xiangming: 368.0%), but the hypertension prevalence of above 35 years old group was higher than 18 - 35 years old group. Hypertension prevalence of male was 25.4% (761/2992) in Yangzhuang and 11.7% (238/2047) in Xiangming, Yangzhuang was higher than Xiangming (χ(2) = 145.8, P < 0.01), hypertension prevalence of female was 22.7% (738/3248) in Yangzhuang and 11.2% (340/2877)in Xiangming, Yangzhuang was higher than Xiangming (χ(2) = 125.1, P < 0.01). While the difference between male and female had no statistical significance in both areas. CONCLUSION: Hypertension of the two monitoring points was in high epidemic trend, but with different epidemic trend. From different region and environment research to discuss the cause of hypertension can provide scientific evidence for prevention and control.

[Clinical random trial of thumbtack needling therapy for analgesia after cesarean section].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the analgesic effect of thumbtack needling therapy and the quality of life in puerpera underwent cesarean section. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-five puerpera underwent cesarean section were randomly divided into a medication group, a sham-thumbtack needling group and a thumbtack needling group, 45 cases in each group. In the medication group, the patient control analgesia (PCA) was given. In the thumbtack needling group, on the base of the regimen as the medication group, acupuncture with thumbtack needles was applied to lower abdominal point (Extra), Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Geshu (BL17), Shenshu (BL23) and Dachangshu (BL25). The needles were retained for 48 hours. During the needle retaining, the sites with the needle embedded were pressed and kneaded for 3 times, 1 min each time, at the interval of 4 to 12 h. In the sham-thumbtack needling group, the sham-thumbtack needles were used; the acupoint selection, operation and treatment course were all the same as the thumbtack needling group. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of incision pain and ute-rine contraction pain, the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions, the amount of vaginal bleeding and milk amount in lactation were observed at each time point after the operation separately in each group. RESULTS: Compared with the medication group, the VAS score of incision pain was decreased 8, 12 and 24 h after operation (P<0.05), the VAS score of uterine contraction pain was decreased 8, 12, 24 and 48 h after operation (P<0.05), the lactation score was increased in 24 to 48 h after operation (P<0.05) in both the sham-thumbtack needling group and thumbtack needling group. Compared with the sham-thumbtack needling group, the VAS score of incision pain was decreased 8, 12 and 24 h after operation (P<0.05), the VAS score of uterine contraction pain was decreased 24 and 48 h after operation (P<0.05) in the thumbtack needling group. Compared with those from 2 to 24 h after operation, the vaginal bleeding amount was decreased and the lactation score increased from 24 to 48 h after operation (P<0.05) in all of the three groups. CONCLUSION: The conventional PCA combined with thumbtack needling therapy obtained better analgesic effects on incision dynamic pain and uterine contraction pain in patients after cesarean section as compared with either the simple PCA or the combined treatment with sham-thumbtack needling and medication, and both the thumbtack needling and the sham-thumbtack needling therapy can increase the milk amount of lactation from 24 to 48 h after operation.

Bis(2,2'-bipyridyl dioxide-κN,N')bis-(tricyano-methanido)cobalt(II) dihydrate.

In the title compound, [Co(C(4)N(3))(2)(C(10)H(8)N(2)O(2))]·2H(2)O, a novel tricyano-methanide complex, the Co(II) atom is located on an inversion center and has a distorted octa-hedral coordination with two 2,2'-bipyridyl dioxide (dpdo) mol-ecules and two trans tricyano-methanide (tcm) anions. The equatorial plane is formed by the four O atoms of the two chelating dpdo ligands, with one N atom of each of the two tcm ligands occupying an apical position. There is a disordered solvent water mol-ecule in the asymmetric unit (occupancy ratio 0.63:0.37). These water mol-ecules result in the formation of O-H⋯O and O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, building a layer parallel to (100). The layers are linked by C-H⋯N hydrogen-bonding inter-actions, leading to a three-dimensional network.

Sinapine Thiocyanate Ameliorates Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction in Hypertension by Inhibiting Activation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome.

The increase of blood pressure is accompanied by the changes in the morphology and function of vascular endothelial cells. Vascular endothelial injury and hypertension actually interact as both cause and effect. A large number of studies have proved that inflammation plays a significant role in the occurrence and development of hypertension, but the potential mechanism between inflammation and hypertensive endothelial injury is still ambiguous. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and hypertensive endothelial damage, and to demonstrate the protective effect of sinapine thiocyanate (ST) on endothelia in hypertension. The expression of NLRP3 gene was silenced by tail vein injection of adeno-associated virus (AAVs) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), indicating that activation of NLRP3 inflammasome accelerated hypertensive endothelial injury. ST not only protected vascular endothelial function in SHRs by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and the expression of related inflammatory mediators, but also improved AngII-induced huvec injury. In summary, our results show that alleviative NLRP3 inflammasome activation attenuates hypertensive endothelial damage and ST ameliorates vascular endothelial dysfunction in hypertension via inhibiting activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Triterpenoid saponins and monoterpenoid glycosides from Incarvillea delavayi.

Two new triterpenoid saponins, incarvillosides A (1) and B (2), and two new monoterpenoid glycosides, incarvillosides C (3) and D (4), were isolated from the high-polarity fraction of the whole plant of Incarvillea delavayi. By means of spectroscopic data and chemical degradation, the structures were established as (3beta,21beta)-3,19,21,23-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (1), (2beta,3beta,19alpha)-2,3,19,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (2), (2S,6R)-2,6-dimethyl-1,8-octanediol 1-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (3), and (2S,6R)-2,6-dimethyl-1,8-octanediol 8-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (4).

Bis(2,2':6',2''-terpyridine)cobalt(II) bis-(tricyano-methanide).

The title complex, [Co(C(15)H(11)N(3))(2)](C(4)N(3))(2), is built up from discrete [Co(terpy)(2)](2+) cations (terpy is 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine) and [C(CN)(3)](-) anions. In the cation, the Co(II) atom is coordinated by two terpy mol-ecules, giving a distorted octa-hedral geometry. The tricyano-methanide anions are not directly coordinated to the Co(II) atom, but some weak C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds involving the terminal N atoms of the tricyaomethanide ions and the terpyridine H atoms link anions and cations building a three-dimensional network.

Onset of double-diffusive convection in near-critical gas mixtures.

Near the thermodynamic critical point, the physical properties of binary fluids exhibit large variations in response to small temperature and concentration differences, whose effects on the onset of double-diffusive convection are reported here. The vertical symmetry is broken, irregular penetrative instability occurs, and cat's eye patterns are identified in the fingering regime and oscillatory regime, respectively. A new parameter Θ is defined which indicates how the variations of physical properties influence flow fields. It is seen through numerical simulations that the Boussinesq approximation with constant physical properties has limited applicability, and that the Boussinesq equations with variable properties and density will describe all features seen. This conclusion is based on comparisons with the fully compressible, variable-property system.

Phytolith data in peat profile over the past 1300 years in the Xishan Mountains, Jiangxi Province, China.

Phytoliths are microscopic siliceous particles formed in the plants and preserved in the sediments after the plant death and decay. Phytolith formation is controlled by the plant genes and growing environments. As such, phytolith assemblages have been widely used in ancient plant composition analysis, paleoclimate reconstruction, and paleoenvironment reconstruction. For the effective utilization, phytolith description, nomenclature and classification are the most important. This article presents detailed original phytolith data from a peat profile (28°44'55.33″N, 115°39'59.80″N), which is related to the research article of "Climatic controls on peat swamp formation and evolution since 1300 year BP as recorded by phytoliths in the Xishan Mountains, Jiangxi Province, China" [1]. After extracted from peat, the phytoliths were observed under 400 × light microscope, described and nominated according to ICPN1.0 [2], and classified and counted more than 400 particles for each peat sample. 314 microscopic slides were observed and fifty types of phytolith were classified for the peat profile, including woody phytoliths, shrub phytoliths, herbaceous phytoliths and other unidentified morph types. All these provide basic information for paleo-researches.

catena-Poly[[(2,2':6',2''-terpyridine-κN,N',N'')(tricyano-methanido-κN)nickel(II)]-µ-tricyano-methanido].

In the title complex, [Ni(C(4)N(3))(2)(C(15)H(11)N(3))](n), each of the two different Ni(II) atoms is coordinated by one 2,2':6'2''-terpyridine (terpy) and three tricyano-methanide ligands in a distorted octa-hedral geometry. The Ni(II) atoms are linked to each other, forming an infinite chain parallel to (10). π-π Stacking inter-actions of terpy mol-ecules between adjacent chains (centroid-centroid distance = 3.785 Å), along with weak inter-molecular C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds involving the uncoordinated terminal N atoms of the tricyanomethanide ions and the terpyridine H atoms, result in the formation of a three-dimensional network structure.

[Application of ICP-AES to the chemical speciation of heavy metals in flyash].

Chemical speciation of seven heavy metals of flyashes in incinerator was quantitatively tested using ICP-AES. Results showed that ICP-AES procedure could carry out quick, exact and high precision experiments. RSD ratio for most detected metals was lower than 3% while few metals present a comparatively high RSD when whose content was near the detection limits. The recovery ratio was 85.7%-100.63% flyashes were found to have high content of Zn, Pb. Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn existed mostly as carbonates and were leachable, while Cr and Ni were combined to metal oxides substrates and present immobilization characteristics.

Integrated Droplet-Based Microextraction with ESI-MS for Removal of Matrix Interference in Single-Cell Analysis.

Integrating droplet-based microfluidics with mass spectrometry is essential to high-throughput and multiple analysis of single cells. Nevertheless, matrix effects such as the interference of culture medium and intracellular components influence the sensitivity and the accuracy of results in single-cell analysis. To resolve this problem, we developed a method that integrated droplet-based microextraction with single-cell mass spectrometry. Specific extraction solvent was used to selectively obtain intracellular components of interest and remove interference of other components. Using this method, UDP-Glc-NAc, GSH, GSSG, AMP, ADP and ATP were successfully detected in single MCF-7 cells. We also applied the method to study the change of unicellular metabolites in the biological process of dysfunctional oxidative phosphorylation. The method could not only realize matrix-free, selective and sensitive detection of metabolites in single cells, but also have the capability for reliable and high-throughput single-cell analysis.

A unique microwave effect on the microstructural modification of Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts for steam reforming of methanol.

A short time (3-10 min) of microwave irradiation on the CuO/ZnO/Al2O3 oxide precursor can result in a unique tailored microstructural modification on the catalyst, leading to a significantly enhanced performance for H2 production from steam reforming of methanol.

Poiseuille Rayleigh-Benard Convective Flow and Compressible Boundary Effects of Near-Critical Fluid in Microchannels.

Near-critical/supercritical fluids have been widely proposed in material process, energy conversion and chemical engineering, etc. The present study is focused on the near-critical CO2 Poiseuille Rayleigh-Benard convective flow in microchannels. Careful numerical procedures are carried out by compressible Navier-Stokes equations, coupled energy and near-critical CO2 fluid state equations. In the physical model, sudden application of boundary heat fluxes in the boundaries is assumed. The flow and heat transfer characteristics of such Poiseuille Rayleigh-Benard configuration in microscales are systematically explored. For the convection onset, strong near-critical vortex flows are found for a relative wide range of initial and input conditions in microchannels. It is found that typical near-critical thin, hot boundary layer (HBL) plays critical role in the basic stability evolution process. The hot boundary layer formation process and the characteristics of the transition phenomena, convection structure, heat transfer behaviors as well as future development are also presented in this paper. It is hoped that this study can contribute to near-critical hydrodynamics in microscales.

Crystal structures of (1,4,7,10-tetra-aza-cyclo-dodecane-κ(4) N)bis-(tri-cyano-methanido-κN)nickel and (1,4,7,10-tetra-aza-cyclo-dodecane-κ(4) N)(tri-cyano-methanido-κN)copper tri-cyano-methanide.

The structures of two mononuclear transition-metal complexes with tri-cyano-methanide (tcm(-)) and 1,4,7,10-tetra-aza-cyclo-dodecane (cyclen) ligands, [Ni(C4N3)2(C8H20N4)], (I), and [Cu(C4N3)(C8H20N4)](C4N3), (II), are reported. In the neutral complex (I), the nickel cation is coordinated by one cyclen ligand and two monodentate N-bound tcm(-) anions in a distorted octa-hedral geometry. The tcm(-) ligands are mutually cis. The Cu(II) atom in (II) displays a distorted tetra-gonal-pyramidal geometry, with the four N-donor atoms of the cyclen ligand in the equatorial plane, and one tcm(-) anion bound through a single N atom in an axial site, forming a monocation. The second tcm(-) molecule acts as a counter-ion not directly coordinating to the copper cation. In both (I) and (II), extensive series of N-H⋯N and C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds generate three-dimensional network structures.

Renal tubular damage may contribute more to acute hyperglycemia induced kidney injury in non-diabetic conscious rats.

AIMS: Growing evidences suggest that acute hyperglycemia is strongly related to kidney injury. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of acute hyperglycemia on kidney glomerular and tubular impairment in non-diabetic conscious rats. METHODS: Non-diabetic conscious rats were randomly subjected to 6h of saline (control group) or high glucose (acute hyperglycemia group) infusion. Blood glucose was maintained at 16.0-18.0 mmol/L in acute hyperglycemia group. Renal structure and function alterations, systemic/renal inflammation and oxidative stress markers were assessed, and apoptosis markers of renal inherent cells were evaluated. RESULTS: Acute hyperglycemia caused significant injury to structure of glomerular filtration barrier, tubular epithelial cells and peritubular vascular endothelial cells. It increased urinary microalbumin (68.01 ± 27.09 µg/24h vs 33.81 ± 13.81 µg/24h , P=0.014), ß2-microglobulin, Cystatin C, urinary and serous neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels (P < 0.05). Acute hyperglycemia decreased megalin and cubilin expression, activated systemic and renal oxidative stress as well as inflammation and promoted renal inherent cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Acute hyperglycemia causes significant injury to kidney function and structure. Compared with damages of glomerular filtration barrier, renal tubular injury may contribute more to acute hyperglycemia induced proteinuria. Activation of inflammation especially renal inflammation, oxidative stress and enhanced apoptosis may be the underlying mechanisms.

[Selective quantitation of analgin by flow injection chemiluminescence method].

A new chemiluminescence-based method was proposed for selective quantitation of analgin in pharmaceutical preparation. The CL emission was generated by mixing analgin, polyethylene glycol-400 and rhodamine 6G in acidic medium. The analgin content could be determined by the CL intensity. No oxidants were used in the system, so it was difficult to explain why the CL emission was produced. The mechanism of CL emission remains under investigation. One of the advantages of this method is highly selective. No other pharmaceutical compounds and chemicals could produce CL emission whether they contain sulfuric group or not in the experiment. There was no disturbance in this method, which was different from others. Another advantage is high sensitivity. The quantitation range is from 0.01 to 10 microg x mL(-1) with a detection limit of 0.003 microg x mL(-1) for analgin. This is the lowest detection limit of any CL methods currently available for analgin determination. The proposed method was applied to the selective quantitation of analgin in pharmaceutical preparation.