Prediction and control of elevated temperatures within landfills under aeration and recirculation based on the thermal non-equilibrium model.

Aeration is an effective approach to sustainable landfilling but may lead to elevated temperatures within landfills, resulting in landfill fires or explosions. Therefore, aeration is usually combined with leachate recirculation to control the elevated temperatures within landfills. To predict landfill temperatures during aeration and recirculation, a local thermal non-equilibrium model is developed considering the heat generation of biodegradation, the heat removal due to evaporation and leachate-gas flow, and the effects of the capillary. The solver is implemented in OpenFOAM based on the finite volume method and validated against a waste-column experiment and an in-situ aeration test. The simulation results demonstrate that the assumption of local thermal equilibrium will distinctly overestimate the temperature, maximally by 15 °C in the studied case. The model is then used to simulate a typical aerobic landfill unit to investigate the formation of explosive gas mixtures and elevated temperatures under different operating conditions. The simulation results of gas composition suggest that aeration will not result in explosive gas within landfills. A reasonable recirculation method for temperature control with corresponding operating parameters under a group of values of aeration pressure (2000-4000 Pa) and recirculation rate (0.0001-0.0008 m/s) are proposed, which can provide some guides for the design of an aeration and recirculation combined system. For a given total volume of added leachate, a higher recirculation rate does not always mean better cooling, and the cooling effect of continuous recirculation is better than that of intermittent recirculation.

Clinical outcomes of uterine artery embolization and experience of postoperative transvaginal fibroid expulsion: a retrospective analysis.

PURPOSE: To explore the efficacy of uterine artery embolization (UAE) in the treatment of uterine fibroid and share the experience of transvaginal fibroid expulsion (FE) after UAE. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the changes in uterine and fibroid volume in 152 patients with symptomatic uterine fibroid after UAE at Fujian Provincial Hospital and Fujian Longyan People Hospital from March 2014 to March 2020. After a 12-month follow-up, the improvement in postoperative clinical symptoms and the incidence of complications were evaluated. We also shared the clinical features and imaging findings of four patients with FE after UAE. RESULTS: All 152 patients successfully underwent UAE. After a 12-month follow-up, the postoperative volumes of the uterus and fibroid at 3, 6, and 12 months were significantly reduced or disappeared compared to those before surgery (P < 0.05). Clinical symptoms, such as menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, prolonged menstrual period, anemia, increased leucorrhea, pelvic discomfort, and urinary tract compression, were significantly improved after UAE. Among the 152 patients, the incidences of postoperative fever, nausea, vomiting, lower abdominal pain, and increased vaginal secretion were 7.89%, 7.24%, 3.95%, 19.08%, and 4.61%, respectively. Additionally, there were six cases of FE, with an incidence of 3.95%. Three cases of fibroid specimens and pathological images of fibroid biopsy, which were expelled through the vagina, were also provided. CONCLUSION: UAE is a satisfactory alternative surgical method for symptomatic uterine fibroid with definitive efficacy and high safety. However, it is necessary to guard against the occurrence of postoperative complications such as FE.

A thrombophilia family with protein S deficiency due to protein translation disorders caused by a Leu607Ser heterozygous mutation in PROS1.

BACKGROUND: Protein S deficiency (PSD) is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease. In 1984, familial PSD was reported to be prone to recurrent thrombosis. Follow-up studies have shown that heterozygous protein S (PROS1) mutations increase the risk of thrombosis. More than 300 PROS1 mutations have been identified; among them, only a small number of mutations have been reported its possible mechanism to reduce plasma protein S (PS) levels. However, whether PROS1 mutations affect protein structure and why it can induce PSD remains unknown. METHODS: The clinical phenotypes of the members of a family with thrombosis were collected. Their PS activity was measured using the coagulation method, whereas their protein C and antithrombin III activities were measured using methods such as the chromogenic substrate method. The proband and her parents were screened for the responsible mutation using second-generation whole exon sequencing, and the members of the family were verified for suspected mutations using Sanger sequencing. Mutant and wild type plasmids were constructed and transfected into HEK293T cells to detect the mRNA and protein expression of PROS1. RESULTS: In this family, the proband with venous thrombosis of both lower extremities, the proband's mother with pulmonary embolism and venous thrombosis of both lower extremities, and the proband's younger brother had significantly lower PS activity and carried a PROS1 c. 1820 T > C:p.Leu607Ser heterozygous mutation (NM_000313.3). However, no such mutations were found in family members with normal PS activity. The PS expression in the cell lysate and supernatant of the Leu607Ser mutant cells decreased, while mRNA expression increased. Immunofluorescence localization showed that there was no significant difference in protein localization before and after mutation. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of family phenotype, gene association, and cell function tests suggest that the PROS1 Leu607Ser heterozygous mutation may be a pathogenic mutation. Serine substitution causes structural instability of the entire protein. These data indicate that impaired PS translation and synthesis or possible secretion impairment is the main pathogenesis of this family with hereditary PSD and thrombophilia.

The diagnostic value of [18F]-FDG-PET/CT in assessment of radiation renal injury in Tibet minipigs model.

BACKGROUND: Radiation-induced kidney damage can severely affect renal function, and have a serious impact on glucose reabsorption. Fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is routinely utilized for metabolic imaging of glucose utilization. In this study, we are trying to assess the diagnostic value of 18F-FDG-PET/CT on measuring hyperacute effect of total body irradiation (TBI) on the kidneys. METHODS: Forty-eight Tibet minipigs were treated by TBI of different dosages using an 8-MV X-ray linear accelerator. Whole-body 18F-FDG-PET/CT was performed at 6, 24 and 72 h followed by histologic examination, blood samples' and renal function analysis. RESULTS: The uptake of 18F-FDG was significantly different between 11/14 Gy dose groups and control group, the standard Uptake Values reached a maximal level at 72 h after 14-Gy TBI treatment. At doses over 8 Gy, histological observation showed formation of tube casts, degeneration, necrosis of tubular cells, inflammatory cell infiltration and dilatation of the mitochondria of tubule cells. Renal function analysis confirmed the changes in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels at various dosages and time intervals. Immunohistochemistry and western blot results indicate that the expression levels of IL-10 and TNF-α proteins were positively correlated with radiation dose up to 8 Gy. CONCLUSIONS: 18F-FDG PET/CT can reflect pathological changes in kidneys and it may be a useful tool for rapid and non-invasive assessment in cases of suspected radiation-induced kidney damage.

[Advances in the research of inhibitors of enzymes of bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthesis].

In recent years, owing to the abuse of antibiotics, the widespread of resistant bacterial strains became a serious threat to public health. This status demands development of new antibacterial agents with novel mechanisms of action. The reason for the limited new antibacterials is the small number of effective therapeutic targets, which cannot meet the current needs for the multiple drug-resistant treatment. Screening for new targets is the key step in the development of novel antibacterial agents. Peptidoglycan is the main component of the cell wall of bacteria, which is essential for survival of pathogenic bacteria. Within the biochemical pathway for peptidoglycan biosynthes is the Murligases, described in this review as highly potential targets for the development of new classes of antibacterial agents. This review provides an in-depth insight into the recent developments in the field of inhibitors of the Mur enzymes (MurA-F). Moreover, the reasons for the lack of candidate inhibitors and the challenges to overcome the hurdles are also discussed.

Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence with Nanosecond Emission Lifetimes and Minor Concentration Quenching: Achieving High-Performance Nondoped and Doped Blue OLEDs.

Simultaneously achieving a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), ultrashort exciton lifetime, and suppressed concentration quenching in thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials is desirable yet challenging. Here, a novel acceptor-donor-acceptor type TADF emitter, namely, 2BO-sQA, wherein two oxygen-bridged triarylboron (BO) acceptors are arranged with cofacial alignment and positioned nearly orthogonal to the rigid dispirofluorene-quinolinoacridine (sQA) donor is reported. This molecular design enables the compound to achieve highly efficient (PLQYs up to 99%) and short-lived (nanosecond-scale) blue TADF with effectively suppressed concentration quenching in films. Consequently, the doped organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) base on 2BO-sQA achieve exceptional electroluminescence performance across a broad range of doping concentrations, maintaining maximum external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) at over 30% for doping concentrations ranging from 10 to 70 wt%. Remarkably, the nondoped blue OLED achieves a record-high maximum EQE of 26.6% with a small efficiency roll-off of 14.0% at 1000 candelas per square meter. By using 2BO-sQA as the sensitizer for the multiresonance TADF emitter ν-DABNA, TADF-sensitized fluorescence OLEDs achieve high-efficiency deep-blue emission. These results demonstrate the feasibility of this molecular design in developing TADF emitters with high efficiency, ultrashort exciton lifetime, and minimal concentration quenching.

Safety and Efficacy of Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Single Center Experience.

Purpose: In China, many patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Several studies have shown that triple therapy [transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)] is beneficial for patient survival. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of triple therapy (TACE + TKIs + ICIs) for unresectable HCC (uHCC) and the conversion rate of surgical resection (SR). The primary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) based on the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) and RECIST v1.1 and adverse events (AEs), while the secondary endpoint was the conversion rate of patients with uHCC treated with triple therapy followed by SR. Patients and Methods: Forty-nine patients with uHCC who received triple therapy at Fujian Provincial Hospital between January 2020 and June 2022 were retrospectively included. The treatment efficacy, SR conversion rate, and associated AEs were recorded. Results: Among the 49 patients enrolled, the ORRs assessed by mRECIST and RECIST v1.1 were 57.1% (24/42) and 14.3% (6/42), respectively, and the DCRs were 92.9% (39/42) and 88.1% (37/42), respectively. Seventeen (34.7%) patients met the criteria for resectable HCC and underwent resection. The median interval between the start of triple therapy and resection was 113.5 days (range 94.75 to 182 d), and the median number of TACE was 2 (range 1 to 2.5). The patients did not achieve median overall survival or median progression-free survival. Treatment-related AEs occurred in 48 (98%) patients, and 18 (36.7%) patients had grade ≥3 AEs. Conclusion: Triple combination therapy resulted in a relatively high ORR and conversion resection rate following uHCC treatment.

Influence mechanism of thermally enhanced phase change on heat transfer and soil vapour extraction.

Thermal enhanced soil vapour extraction (T-SVE) is a remedial technique involving gas, aqueous, solid and nonaqueous phases along with mass and heat transfer. Interphase mass transfer of contaminants and water evaporation/condensation will cause the redistribution of phase saturation, eventually affecting the performance of T-SVE. In this study, a multiphase, multicompositional and nonisothermal model was developed to simulate the T-SVE treatment of contaminated soil. The model was calibrated using published data from the SVE laboratory and T-SVE field experiments. The temporal and spatial distributions of the contaminant concentrations in the four different phases, the mass transfer rates and the temperatures are presented to reveal the coupling interactions that occur between multiple fields during T-SVE. A series of parametric studies were carried out to investigate the effect of water evaporation and adsorbed/dissolved contaminants on the T-SVE performance. It was found that endothermic evaporation, exothermic condensation and the interaction between different removal paths of a contaminant played critical roles in the thermal enhancement of SVE. Ignoring them can result in significant differences in the removal efficiency values.

Pharmarcomechanical thrombectomy combined with transluminal balloon angioplasty for treating transplant renal vein thrombosis.

Renal vein thrombosis (RVT) is a rare vascular complication that occurs after renal transplantation and usually results in irreversible kidney damage and graft loss. We report the case of a patient who underwent right iliac fossa allogeneic kidney transplantation and developed RVT combined with ipsilateral thrombosis from the popliteal to the femoral veins, with extension to the common iliac veins, 4 months after transplantation. Under unfractionated heparin anticoagulation, an Aegisy (Life Tech Scientific Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China) vena cava filter was placed to prevent pulmonary embolism. Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy combined with balloon angioplasty was performed to aspirate the thrombus and successfully dilate the narrow venous lumen. The patient's renal function was restored postoperatively. Ultrasonography showed the allograft and ipsilateral lower extremity deep veins to be fluent and patent. To conclude, in patients with RVT after renal transplantation, percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy in conjunction with balloon angioplasty can be performed with desirable outcomes and no severe adverse effects. This method reduces the risk of bleeding from exposure to systemic intravenous thrombolysis and avoids surgery-associated trauma.

Safety and Efficacy of Drug-Eluting Bead Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined with Lenvatinib and Anti-PD-1 Antibodies for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) has good efficacy in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC), with a relatively high objective response rate (ORR) compared to conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE). This study aimed to evaluate the safety and medium-term clinical efficacy of DEB-TACE combined with lenvatinib (LEN) plus PD-1 inhibitors as a triple therapy for the treatment of uHCC. Methods: Data of patients with uHCC who received triple therapy of DEB-TACE combined with LEN plus PD-1 inhibitors from January 2019 to June 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The study endpoints were ORR, progression-free survival (PFS), and treatment-related adverse events based on the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST). Results: Thirty-five patients were included in this study, with a median follow-up period of 15 months. The median cycle of DEB-TACE was 1, while that of all forms of TACE procedures per patient was 2. The median administration time of LEN was 7 months, and the median number of PD-1 inhibitor treatment was 4 cycles. The ORR based on mRECIST was 82.9%, disease control rate was 91.4%, and the median time to response was 7 weeks. Among these, the ORR of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A reached 100%, while that of BCLC stages B and C reached 84.6% and 78.9%, respectively. The median PFS was 9 months; the mOS was not reached. Fourteen patients (40%) successfully underwent downstaging conversion and surgical resection, 32 patients (91.4%) experienced treatment-related adverse events, and no grade 5-related adverse reactions occurred. Conclusion: DEB-TACE combined with LEN and PD-1 inhibitors has a high ORR and surgical conversion rate in the treatment of uHCC tumors, and the toxicity and side effects were tolerable.

Case Report: Imaging features of a new type double inferior vena cava malformation and review.

Background: Double inferior vena cava (DIVC) is a rare vascular malformation. With advances in radiological techniques and diagnosis, more and more types of DIVC were identified and diagnosed. Recognition of the variety of DIVC seen on imaging is essential for subsequent venous interventions. Case presentation: A 77-year-old man presented with low back pain with left lower limb pain for 1 month. Scattered petechiae above the skin surface on the left lower leg, especially on the extensor surface, with flaking and mild tingling of the skin, were noted 3 weeks ago. Ultrasound revealed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the left lower limb. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) suggested no significant thrombus in the pulmonary artery. Computed tomography venography (CTV) of bilateral lower limbs showed that iliac vein compression syndrome with formation of deep and superficial venous traffic branches in bilateral lower limbs, predominantly on the left side. CTV of the inferior vena cava (IVC) suggested that the left common iliac vein crossed the common iliac artery bifurcation from dorsal to ventral and continued to travel cranially as a ventral vessel, and connected with the ventral IVC anterior to the right common iliac artery. The right common iliac vein extended cephalad as a dorsal vessel, which was narrowed at the level of 4th lumbar vertebra by compression of the hyperplastic bone and the osteophyte. The patient was discharged after right and left common iliac vein angiography and balloon dilation of bilateral common iliac vein. Conclusion: The formation of both ventrally and dorsally aligned DIVC is rarer. It should be clarified the effects of DIVC on DVT formation, and the importance of imaging for preoperative planning.

¹8F-FDG uptake by spleen helps rapidly predict the dose level after total body irradiation in a Tibetan minipig model.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether (18)F- FDG uptake can be applied in dosimetry to facilitate the rapid and accurate evaluation of individual radiation doses after a nuclear accident. METHODS: Forty-eight Tibetan minipigs were randomised into a control group (n = 3) and treatment groups (n = 45). (18)F-FDG combined positron-emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) were carried out before total body irradiation (TBI) and at 6, 24 and 72 h after receiving TBI doses ranging from 1 to 11 Gy. Spleen tissues and blood samples were also collected for histological examination, apoptosis and blood analysis. RESULTS: Mean standardised uptake values (SUVs) of the spleen showed significant differences between the experimental and the control groups. Spleen SUV at 6 h post-irradiation showed significant correlation with radiation dose; Spearman's correlation coefficient was 0.97 (P < 0.01). Histological observations showed that damage to the splenic lymphocyte became more severe with an increase in the radiation dose. Moreover, apoptosis was one of the major routes of splenic lymphocyte death, which was also confirmed by flow cytometry analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In the Tibetan minipig model, radiation doses have a close relationship with the (18)F-FDG uptake of the spleen. This finding suggests that (18)F-FDG PET/CT may be useful for the rapid detection of individual radiation doses.

Eye orbit effects on eyeball resonant frequencies and acoustic tonometer measurements.

The eye orbit has mechanical and acoustic characteristics that determine resonant frequencies and amplify acoustic signals in certain frequency ranges. These characteristics also interfere with the acoustic amplitudes and frequencies of eyeball when measured with an acoustic tonometer. A model in which a porcine eyeball was embedded in ultrasonic conductive gel in the orbit of a model skull was used to simulate an in vivo environment, and the acoustic responses of eyeballs were detected. The triggering source was a low-power acoustic speaker contacting the occipital bone, and the detector was a high-resolution microphone with a dish detecting the acoustic signals without contacting the cornea. Dozens of ex vivo porcine eyeballs were tested at various intraocular pressure levels to detect their resonant frequencies and acoustic amplitudes in their power spectra. We confirmed that the eyeballs' resonant frequencies were proportional to intraocular pressure, but interference from orbit effects decreased the amplitudes in these resonant frequency ranges. However, we observed that the frequency amplitudes of eyeballs were correlated with intraocular pressure in other frequency ranges. We investigated eye orbit effects and demonstrated how they interfere with the eyeball's resonant frequencies and frequency amplitudes. These results are useful for developing advanced acoustic tonometer.

Novel T-cell signature based on cell pair algorithm predicts survival and immunotherapy response for patients with bladder urothelial carcinoma.

Background: T-cell-T-cell interactions play important roles in the regulation of T-cells' cytotoxic function, further impacting the anti-tumor efficacy of immunotherapy. There is a lack of comprehensive studies of T-cell types in bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) and T-cell-related signatures for predicting prognosis and monitoring immunotherapy efficacy. Methods: More than 3,400 BLCA patients were collected and used in the present study. The ssGSEA algorithm was applied to calculate the infiltration level of 19 T-cell types. A cell pair algorithm was applied to construct a T-cell-related prognostic index (TCRPI). Survival analysis was performed to measure the survival difference across TCRPI-risk groups. Spearman's correlation analysis was used for relevance assessment. The Wilcox test was used to measure the expression level difference. Results: Nineteen T-cell types were collected; 171 T-cell pairs (TCPs) were established, of which 26 were picked out by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis. Based on these TCPs, the TCRPI was constructed and validated to play crucial roles in survival stratification and the dynamic monitoring of immunotherapy effects. We also explored several candidate drugs targeting TCRPI. A composite TCRPI and clinical prognostic index (CTCPI) was then constructed, which achieved a more accurate estimation of BLCA's survival and was therefore a better choice for prognosis prediction in BLCA. Conclusions: All in all, we constructed and validated TCRPI based on cell pair algorithms in this study, which might put forward some new insights to increase the survival estimation and clinical response to immune therapy for individual BLCA patients and contribute to the personalized precision immunotherapy strategy of BLCA.

Retrospective Analysis of the Effect of Lidocaine Combined with Methylprednisolone on Pain Control After Uterine Artery Embolization.

Background: The analgesic effect produced by the intra-arterial injection of lidocaine in patients undergoing uterine artery embolization has been proven to be safe and effective. Nevertheless, a significant degree of pain is typically experienced after the operation, and pain management is crucial. Methylprednisolone, which provides an anti-inflammatory effect, is widely used in the treatment of several diseases. To date, methylprednisolone has not been used after uterine artery embolization. Methods: A total of 131 patients with uterine leiomyoma were retrospectively enrolled. Forty-five patients (control group) were treated with embolized microspheres for bilateral uterine artery embolization. Fifty (study group) and 36 (lidocaine group) patients were administered lidocaine mixed with embolized microspheres during embolization, and in addition, the study group was administered methylprednisolone. Completed pain scales at different time points during surgery were obtained from patients undergoing uterine artery embolization. Efficacy against pain was evaluated by comparing the pain score, inflammatory index, and use of sufentanil within 24 h followed by a Kruskal-Wallis Test and a least significant difference post-hoc analysis. Results: The postoperative pain scores at 1, 4, and 7 h after uterine artery embolization in the study group (3.08 ± 2.09, 2.46 ± 1.93, and 2.38 ± 1.85, respectively) were significantly lower than those in the control group (4.84 ± 2.36, 4.16 ± 1.87, and 3.56 ± 1.93, respectively) and the lidocaine group (3.50 ± 2.10, 3.30 ± 1.88, and 3.28 ± 1.89, respectively). At the first 24 h after embolization, the total usage of sufentanil in the study group (31.4 ± 4.16) was significantly lower than those in the control group (45.7 ± 6.51) and the lidocaine group (38.3 ± 6.25). At 1 and 4 h, the pain scores of the lidocaine group were significantly lower than those of the control group. In addition, at the first 24 h after embolization, the total usage of sufentanil in the lidocaine group was significantly lower than that in the control group. Conclusion: Lidocaine in combination with methylprednisolone can significantly alleviate pain and reduce the usage of sufentanil after bilateral uterine artery embolization. Thus, methylprednisolone is a recommended addition to the therapeutic regimen after embolization.

Splenic Artery Embolization and Splenectomy for Spontaneous Rupture of Splenic Hemangioma and Its Imaging Features.

Background: Spontaneous splenic rupture (SSR) is a rare, often life-threatening, acute abdominal injury that requires immediate diagnosis and early treatment. SSR is mainly treated surgically or conservatively. A few cases of interventional embolization for SSRs have been reported. Case Presentation: A 30-year-old male patient complaining mainly of left upper abdominal pain underwent emergency abdominal computed tomography (CT) and showed enlargement of the spleen with a massive mixed-density shadow approximately 10.0 × 8.0 × 12.5 cm in size. The boundary was unclear and showed obvious progressive enhancement. Considering the intrasplenic tumor lesions with rupture and hemorrhage, the possibility of vascular tumors was high, with intraperitoneal blood and fluid accumulation. Digital subtraction angiography of the splenic arteriography and embolization of the ruptured splenic artery branches were performed. Postoperative hemoglobin progressively decreased, inflammatory indicators, such as white blood cell counts, procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly increased, and 2 days after embolization, the patient developed severe hypoxemia, shock, pulmonary edema, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. CT re-examination 9 days after embolization showed reduced lesion absorption. After stabilization of the condition, splenectomy was performed, and postoperative platelet count increase, anticoagulant improvement, and discharge were observed. Postoperative pathological examination revealed extensive hemorrhage and necrosis, vascular tissue with abnormal hyperplasia in the surrounding area, vascular tissue in the bleeding area and outer wall (elastic fiber staining +), and local myofibroblast hyperplasia. Immunohistochemistry showed actin (SM +) and Ki67 (10% +). Conclusion: SSR caused by splenic hemangioma is rare, and the choice between surgical treatment or splenic artery embolization remains dependent on the patient's hemodynamic stability and imaging findings.

Rare Cases of Bronchial Aneurysm and Comparison of Interventional Embolization in the Treatment of True Bronchial Aneurysm and Pseudobronchial Aneurysm.

Background: Bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) is a rare disease. Rupture of BAA can lead to life-threatening hemoptysis, and once diagnosed, treatment is needed regardless of symptoms. Transcatheter artery embolization is the first choice of treatment because it is minimally invasive and effective. This study aimed to retrospectively compare the embolization treatment of a case of true BAA and that of a pseudobranchial aneurysm and explore the choice of embolization method for BAA with short neck or no neck. Materials and Methods: Embolization treatment and imaging characteristics of one case of true BAA and one case of pseudobronchial aneurysm admitted to our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Embolization methods and therapeutic effects of two cases of BAAs were compared. Results: Case 1 was that of an intact true BAA inside the mediastinum located at the opening of the bronchial artery. The distal end of the aneurysm was embolized, and tumor cavity was occluded. No recurrence of BAA was found after the operation. Case 2 was that of a ruptured and hemorrhagic pseudobronchial aneurysm of the mediastinum. Coil embolization combined with covered stent graft exclusion of the thoracic aorta were performed, and the left bronchial artery and BAA were almost occluded. Nine months postoperatively, the mediastinal hematoma was almost completely absorbed. Conclusion: Endovascular embolization has become the most commonly used for the treatment of BAA. Different methods should be selected according to the location and nature of the aneurysm.

Design method of a modified layered aerobic waste landfill divided by coarse material.

To overcome the weaknesses of traditional landfills, a modified aerobic landfill concept with intermediate covers of coarse material between waste layers functioning as facilities of drainage and aeration has been proposed recently. In this study, a one-dimensional coupled model, including aerobic biodegradation, oxygen diffusion, and advection, is proposed to describe oxygen distribution in this new type of landfill. Homotopy analysis method and perturbation method are applied to solve this model at passive aeration and active aeration, respectively. The model has six input variables, that is, oxygen diffusion coefficient, gas permeability, maximum oxygen consumption rate, layer thickness of waste, and injection pressure and extraction pressure. A combination of their typical values gives rise to over 700,000 scenarios which can be calculated by the proposed solution. The coupled effect of the above variables on oxygen migration is quantitatively investigated, followed by an estimation formula of the minimum oxygen concentration in waste layer. The maximum waste layer thickness is defined as a function of other variables for a given aeration target of oxygen volume concentration larger than 5%. A generalized design method of waste layer thickness, injection pressure, and extraction pressure is then developed for the newly proposed modified layered aerobic landfill, which can promote its popularization and application.

Effect of superselective prostatic artery embolization on benign prostatic hyperplasia.

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety and effectiveness of superselective prostatic artery embolization (PAE) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: Sixty-five patients diagnosed with BPH in Fujian Provincial Hospital between December 2014 and July 2019 were included. Patients with ineffective drug treatment after 6 months, who refused surgery, or who were unsuitable for surgery were included. We observed postoperative complications, followed up at 1, 3, and 6 months, compared clinical symptoms, and monitored changes in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic volume (PV) before and after treatment. RESULTS: Of the 65 patients, 58 (89.23%) successfully received PAE; 44 and 14 bilateral and unilateral embolization, respectively. Clinical efficacy was 94.83% (55/58) after the 6-month follow-up. Postoperative PV, International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life, maximum flow rate, and post-void residual significantly improved after 6 months (P < 0.05). One month after PAE, the serum total PSA increased by 1.47 (10.84/7.37) times and dropped 3 months later to a level lower than that before surgery (P < 0.05). Six months after PAE, the degree of relief from obstructive symptoms was more apparent than that of irritative symptoms. No serious complications were observed after PAE. CONCLUSION: PAE was safe and effective for the treatment of BPH. The efficacy of bilateral PAE was better than that of unilateral PAE.

Retrospective observation of the efficacy and safety of prostatic artery embolization combined with transurethral resection of the prostate and simple transurethral resection of the prostate in the treatment of large (> 100 mL) benign prostatic hyperplasia.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively compare the efficacy and safety of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) combined with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and simple TURP in treating large (> 100 mL) benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 13 and 17 patients with large BPH who underwent TURP and PAE + TURP, respectively, from January 2016 to January 2020. The changes in various indices before and after surgery were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In the PAE + TURP group, the operation time (OT), intraoperative blood loss (BL), postoperative bladder flushing time (PBFT), and postoperative catheter retention time (PCRT) were lower, and the speed of the excised lesion (SEL) was higher than that in the TURP group (P < 0.05). Following-up for 12 months, the prostatic volume (PV), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual volume (PVR), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL) score, total prostate-specific antigen (T-PSA), and free prostate-specific antigen (F-PSA) in each group improved as compared to before the surgery (P < 0.05), and the above improved indicators, IPSS ratio, and obstructive symptoms in the PAE + TURP group were higher than those in the TURP group (P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the PAE + TURP group was lower than that in the TURP group. We obtained the pathological picture of a prostate biopsy after PAE for the first time. CONCLUSION: Compared to TURP alone, PAE + TURP should be promoted, because of its greater efficacy and safety in treating large BPH and fewer post-surgical complications.