Pb2+-Containing Metal-Organic Rotaxane Frameworks (MORFs).

The metal-organic rotaxane framework (MORF) structures with the advantage of mechanically interlocking molecules (MIMs) have attracted intense interest from the chemical community. In this study, a set of MORFs (i.e., MORF-Pb-1 and MORF-Pb-2) are constructed using Pb2+, a tetraimidazolium macrocycle (Texas-sized molecular box; 14+), and aromatic dicarboxylate (p-phthalate dianions (PTADAs; 2) or 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate dianions (3)) via a one-pot three-layer diffusion protocol. In particular, an unusual Pb…Pb weak interaction was shown in MORF-Pb-1 (charactered with distance of 3.656 Å).

Primary or metastatic hepatic carcinoma? A breast cancer patient after adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy postoperatively with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The liver is a common site of metastases, followed by the bone and lung in breast cancer. The symptoms of hepatic metastases are similar to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). ICC is rare, with an overall incidence rate of 0.95 cases per 100,000 adults. The incidence of ICC for patients with breast cancer is very uncommon. Breast cancer patient with ICC is easily misdiagnosed as hepatic metastases. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a breast cancer patient postoperatively who was hospitalized because of having continuous irregular fever for 1 month. Antibiotics were given for 1 week without any significant effect. Her admission bloods revealed elevated levels of carcino-embryonic antigen. Magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis showed multiple liver metastases. We believed that the woman had hepatic metastases until biopsy guided by computed tomography. The liver biopsy pathology analysis considered the possibility of primary intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer patient with space-occupying lesions in the liver is easily considered to be progressed hepatic metastases. Image-guided biopsy is the best diagnostic method for breast cancer with liver mass to avoid misdiagnosis and classify the molecular subtypes to make appropriate treatment.

Fission yeast nucleolar protein Dnt1 regulates G2/M transition and cytokinesis by downregulating Wee1 kinase.

Cytokinesis involves temporally and spatially coordinated action of the cell cycle, cytoskeletal and membrane systems to achieve separation of daughter cells. The septation initiation network (SIN) and mitotic exit network (MEN) signaling pathways regulate cytokinesis and mitotic exit in the yeasts Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respectively. Previously, we have shown that in fission yeast, the nucleolar protein Dnt1 negatively regulates the SIN pathway in a manner that is independent of the Cdc14-family phosphatase Clp1/Flp1, but how Dnt1 modulates this pathway has remained elusive. By contrast, it is clear that its budding yeast relative, Net1/Cfi1, regulates the homologous MEN signaling pathway by sequestering Cdc14 phosphatase in the nucleolus before mitotic exit. In this study, we show that dnt1(+) positively regulates G2/M transition during the cell cycle. By conducting epistasis analyses to measure cell length at septation in double mutant (for dnt1 and genes involved in G2/M control) cells, we found a link between dnt1(+) and wee1(+). Furthermore, we showed that elevated protein levels of the mitotic inhibitor Wee1 kinase and the corresponding attenuation in Cdk1 activity is responsible for the rescuing effect of dnt1Δ on SIN mutants. Finally, our data also suggest that Dnt1 modulates Wee1 activity in parallel with SCF-mediated Wee1 degradation. Therefore, this study reveals an unexpected missing link between the nucleolar protein Dnt1 and the SIN signaling pathway, which is mediated by the Cdk1 regulator Wee1 kinase. Our findings also define a novel mode of regulation of Wee1 and Cdk1, which is important for integration of the signals controlling the SIN pathway in fission yeast.

[Transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy combined with finasteride for recurrent hematospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy (TUSV) combined with finasteride in the treatment of recurrent hemospermia. METHODS: This study included 32 patients with recurrent hematospermia, with the disease course of 3 months to 4 years. After administration of finasteride at 5 mg/d for 2 weeks, the patients underwent TUSV for both exploration of the causes and treatment, followed by medication with finasteride at the same dose for another 2 weeks. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for observation of the outcomes and complications. RESULTS: TUSV was successfully accomplished in all the 32 cases, which revealed 16 cases of seminal vesiculitis, 10 seminal calculi, 1 seminal vesicle cyst, 2 seminal vesicle polyps, and 3 seminal vesicle abscess. The operative time was 20 to 51 (31.0 +/- 5.2) minutes. Postoperative complications included 1 case of acute epididymitis and 3 cases of breast discomfort within the first 4 weeks. No incontinence, urethral stricture, rectal injury, retrograde ejaculation, and sexual dysfunction occurred postoperatively. All the patients but 1 were followed up for 6 months to 2 years. Twenty-nine of the cases were cured, and 2 experienced recurrence. CONCLUSION: Transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy combined with finasteride is safe and effective for the treatment of recurrent hemospermia.

Morphological and Phylogenetic Analyses Reveal Three New Species of Entomopathogenic Fungi Belonging to Clavicipitaceae (Hypocreales, Ascomycota).

This study aims to report three new species of Conoideocrella and Moelleriella from Yunnan Province, Southwestern China. Species of Conoideocrella and Moelleriella parasitize scale insects (Coccidae and Lecaniidae, Hemiptera) and whiteflies (Aleyrodidae, Hemiptera). Based on the phylogenetic analyses of the three-gene nrLSU, tef-1α, and rpb1, it showed one new record species (Conoideocrella tenuis) and one new species (Conoideocrella fenshuilingensis sp. nov.) in the genus Conoideocrella, and two new species, i.e., Moelleriella longzhuensis sp. nov. and Moelleriella jinuoana sp. nov. in the genus Moelleriella. The three new species were each clustered into separate clades that distinguished themselves from one another. All of them were distinguishable from their allied species based on their morphology. Morphological descriptions, illustrations, and comparisons of the allied taxa of the four species are provided in the present paper. In addition, calculations of intraspecific and interspecific genetic distances were performed for Moelleriella and Conoideocrella.

Risk factors of choledocholithiasis formation after liver transplantation.

Systematic study of risk factors for biliary stone post-liver transplantation is rarely performed. To investigate the risk factor of choledocholithiasis formation after liver transplantation, we conducted a case-control study. Fourteen patients were selected into a study group. The stones of the bile duct of the patients were confirmed and treated successfully by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. For univariate analysis, we selected carefully some potential risk factors such as cold ischemia time, warm ischemia time, and biliary stricture. The results revealed that cold ischemia time and biliary stenosis were significant predictors. But multivariate analysis revealed that only biliary stenosis was a significant risk factor. In conclusion, biliary stenosis is a risk factor of bile duct stones formation after liver transplantation. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is effective and safe in the diagnosis or treatment of bile duct stones after liver transplantation.

[Analysis of clinicopathological factors associated with false-negative rate of sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients: experience of a single center].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic factors associated with false-negative rate of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in breast cancer, and to explore how to reduce the false-negative rate of SLNB. METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 2265 patients with invasive breast carcinoma who underwent sentinel lymph nodes biopsy (SLNB) in Shandong Cancer Hospital between November 1999 and December 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. We screened 1228 patients who received axillary lymph node dissection after SLNB, and studied the clinicopathological factors that could be associated with false-negative rate of SLNB. RESULTS: The false negative rate of this group was 10.7% (73/683), accuracy rate was 94.1% (1155/1228), and negative predictive value was 88.2% (545/618). Clinical tumor size (all P < 0.05), calendar year of surgery (all P < 0.05) and numbers of detected SLNs (all P < 0.05) were significantly related with false negative rate and accuracy rate of SLNB, determined by single factor analysis. Logistic regression model analysis showed that calendar year of surgery (P = 0.034) and numbers of detected SLNs (P = 0.012) were independent predictive factors for the false negative rate of SLNB. CONCLUSIONS: False negative rate and accuracy rate of SLNB are significantly related to the calendar year of surgery and number of detected SLNs. Strict case selection, standard operation procedure, increaseing numbers of detected SLNs, and improvement of the skill of operators are effective measures to reduce the false negative rate of SLNB.

[Value of sentinel lymph node metastasis status in predicting the presence of residual disease in the non-sentinel lymph node of breast cancer patients].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) metastasis status in predicting the presence of residual disease in non-sentinel lymph nodes (nSLN) and the feasibility of avoiding or reducing the scope of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for patients with single positive SLN. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted for 2265 patients with invasive breast carcinomas undergoing sentinel lymph nodes biopsy (SLNB) at Shandong Cancer Hospital between November 1999 and December 2011. And 1228 patients with axillary dissection were screened and divided into 5 groups of (-), (1/n), (1/1), (n/N), (n/n) (n ≥ 2, N ≥ 3, N > n) according to the status of SLN metastasis. RESULTS: The nSLN metastasis rate of SLN(-), (1/n), (1/1), (n/N) and (n/n) groups was 11.8%(73/618), 25.2%(65/258), 49.6%(67/135), 48.4%(60/124)and 65.6%(61/93)respectively. A comparison of SLN(-), (1/n), (1/1), (n/N), and (n/n) groups of nSLN metastasis showed a significant difference (P = 0.000). The differences of nSLN metastasis between SLN(-) and other groups (including 1/n, 1/1, n/N, n/n group) were significant (P = 0.000). This difference was also significant between SLN (1/n) and other positive groups (include 1/1, n/N, n/n group) (P = 0.000), but not significant between SLN(1/1), (n/N) and (n/n) groups (P = 0.842, 0.017, 0.042 respectively, Chi-square segmentation). No significant difference existed between axillary lymph node metastasis on Level II and III of SLN 1/n group and SLN(-) group (P = 0.012, 0.570,χ(2) segmentation). CONCLUSIONS: The status of SLN metastasis is one of influencing factors for the nSLN metastasis of patients with invasive breast cancer. The possibility of non-sentinel lymph node involvement for patients with single SLN metastasis was smaller than that of other SLN-positive patients. It is safe for some SLN 1/n patients to undergo low lymph node dissection. But ALND is not avoided for patients with single positive SLN (SLN 1/n n ≥ 2). Their clinicopathological variables should be also considered.

Synotisjinpingensis (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), a new species with white ray florets from southeastern Yunnan, China.

Synotisjinpingensis (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), a new species from Jinping county in southeastern Yunnan province, China, is described and illustrated. This species is distinguished by having white ray florets in the genus Synotis, in which only species with yellow ray florets have been hitherto known. In habit and leaf shape S.jinpingensis is most closely similar to S.duclouxii, a species occurring in southwestern Guizhou, southern Sichuan and northeastern Yunnan, China, but differs, in addition to the color of ray florets, by having fewer lateral veins of leaves, obviously longer bracts of calyculus, and larger phyllaries. The membership of the new species within Synotis is strongly corroborated by evidence from floral micromorphology and phylogenetic analyses based on ITS sequence data. Color photographs of living plants, a distribution map, and provisional IUCN status of S.jinpingensis are provided.

Contralateral Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis of Breast Cancer: Retrospective Analysis and Literature Review.

Background: Contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis (CAM) is classified as distant metastasis in guidelines, but the prognosis is better than that of stage IV patients. It is controversial to classify CAM as a distant metastasis or a regional metastasis, and the optimal treatment strategy for CAM is unknown. Patients and Methods: Breast cancer patients who were confirmed by pathology and treated at Shandong Cancer Hospital between January 2012 and July 2021 were included in our study. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients for their clinical features, pathological diagnosis, treatment strategy, and follow-up data. Survival analysis was calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis, and patient matching was performed by case-control matching. Results: A total of 60 patients were included, and there were 49 metachronous CAM cases and 11 synchronous CAM cases. The prognosis of isolated CAM patients was better than that of patients with other distant metastases in terms of CAM-OS and PFS with significant differences (median CAM-OS 71.0 vs. 30.0 months, P=0.022; median PFS 42.0 vs. 11.0 months, P=0.009) and OS without significant differences (median OS 126.0 vs. 79.0 months, P=0.111). The five-year survival rate of isolated CAM patients was 67.4%, and the five-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 52.9%. The prognosis of CAM patients was similar to that of N3M0 patients in terms of OS (mean OS 82.4 vs. 65.6 months, P=0.537) and DFS (mean PFS 54.5 vs. 52.6 months, P=0.888). Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) or low-middle level ALND significantly improved the OS (mean OS 237.4 vs. 111.0 months, P=0.011), CAM-OS (mean CAM-OS 105.2 vs. 46.6 months, P = 0.002), and PFS (mean PFS 92.3 vs. 26.9 months, P = 0.001) of isolated CAM patients. Axillary radiotherapy improved PFS, CAM-OS, and OS but without significant differences (mean PFS 80.0 vs. 46.6 months, P = 0.345; mean CAM-OS 86.8 vs. 72.1 months, P = 0.338; mean OS 147.6 vs. 133.0 months, P = 0.426). Conclusion: CAM should be diagnosed as local recurrence and treated with aggressive and curative rather than palliative strategies. Contralateral axillary surgery and radiotherapy are recommended for isolated CAM patients.

[Progress on measurement of tibial posterior slope and its biomechanical relationship with posterior cruciate ligament].

The most reliable and convenient measurement method of tibial posterior slope(TPS) and its biomechanical relationship with posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are still controversial. For X-ray measurement, it is recommended to use full-length lateral X-ray of the lower extremity in quatrous section, which has advantage of highly repeatable and common in the daily diagnosis and treatment process, but it is only applicable to patients with tibial rotation within 15°. When the rotation exceeds 30°, it is difficult to identify the inner contour of platform and is no applicable. If it is only used for daily diagnosis and treatment evaluation, when tibial rotation angle is less than 15°, lateral knee X-ray also has a certain reference significance, but the accuracy could not meet requirements of higher clinical research. For CT measurement method, it could correct tibial rotation, but using the fitting point to measure tibial posterior slope on three-dimensional CT reconstruction is only applicable to knee joint without degeneration, more osteophyte affects the way of using fitting point to determine the plane of tibia with real tibia platform conformity degree, have some limitations. For measurement of MRI, it could not only correct tibial rotation, but also minimize the effect of osteophytes by using tibial anatomical axis as the reference axis, which is a good measurement method. For the biomechanical relationship between tibial posterior slope and tibial posterior slope, increased tibial posterior slope indirectly alleviates tension of PCL through tibial anterior displacement or directly reduces load on posterior cruciate ligament in tibial osteotomies, suggesting a protective mechanism for tibial posterior slope;in total knee arthroplasty with cruciate ligament preserved, the size of tibial posterior slope will affect roll back mechanism of femur. When affected knee with PCL injury, it should be avoid to release then aggravate injury, and the stress could be alleviated by increasing tibial posterior slope appropriately. There has been no unified conclusion on the range of tibial posterior slope that is most beneficial to PCL. The natural tibial posterior slope is between 7 ° and 10°, which is considered to be the most beneficial to protection of PCL, but further studies are needed according to the differences in patients' bone status, surgical methods and so on.

[Systematic review of validation phase of breast cancer sentinel lymph node biopsy results in China].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the studies and application status of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in breast cancer in China by statistically analyzing the relevant domestic literature. METHODS: The literatures published from January 1999 to December 2005 were searched in the databases of China, Info, CBM and CNKI retrieval system with "breast tumor, SLN and SLNB" as the key words. A total of 88 manuscripts were selected with 2 new reports of SLNB. The successful rate, accuracy, false-negative rate and sensitivity of SLNB were analyzed by SPSS 10.0 statistical analysis software. RESULTS: Among a total of 6282 patients, the detection rate of SLNB was 90.82% (5705/6282) and the overall false-negative rate 9.69% (259/2671). The prediction sensitivity, specificity, false positive rate, accuracy, negative and positive predictive value of SLN for axillary lymph nodes status were 90.30%, 99.64%, 0.41%, 86.52%, 92.11% and 99.55% respectively. CONCLUSION: SLNB can accurately predict the axillary lymph node metastasis. And its detection rate is correlated with patient age and tumor location. The detection rate and false-negative rate has nothing to do with the tracer injection site. A combined regimen has a higher detection rate and a low false negative rate. Affecting the whole breast, SLN is not correlated with a particular area of breast. The validation phase of SLNB in breast cancer is currently feasible in China.

Rare isolated extra-hepatic bile duct injury: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Extra-hepatic bile duct injury (EHBDI) is very rare among all blunt abdominal injuries. According to literature statistics, it only accounts for 3%-5% of abdominal injuries, most of which are combined injuries. Isolated EHBDI is more rare, with a special injury mechanism, clinical presentation and treatment strategy, so missed diagnosis easily occurs. CASE SUMMARY: We report a case of unexplained abdominal effusion and jaundice following blunt abdominal trauma in our department. Of which, surgical exploration of the case was performed and a large amount of bile leakage in the abdominal cavity was found. No obvious abdominal organ damage or bile duct rupture was found. Surgery was terminated after the common bile duct indwelled with a T tube. After 2 wk, a T-tube angiography revealed the lesion in the common bile duct pancreatic segment, confirming isolated EHBDI. And 2 mo later, the T tube was pulled out with re-examined magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, indicating narrowing of the common bile duct injury, with no special treatment due to no clinical symptoms and no abnormality in the current follow-up. CONCLUSION: This case was featured by intraoperative bile leakage and no EHBDI. This type of rare isolated EHBDI is prone to missed and delayed diagnosis due to its atypical clinical manifestations and imaging features. Surgery is still the main treatment, and the indications and principles of bile duct injury repair must be followed.

Impatiens wutaishanensis (Balsaminaceae), a new species from Southeast Yunnan, China.

Impatiens wutaishanensis R.L. Liao & Lei Cai, a new species from Southeast Yunnan, China, is here described and illustrated. This new species is most similar to Impatiens parvisepala S.X. Yu & Y.T. Hou in its racemose inflorescences, its four lateral sepals, the leaf arrangement, and in having yellow flowers. However, it differs in the height of the plants, the length of the petiole, the size and shape of the leaf blade, the shape of the spur, and the number of flowers in each inflorescence. A detailed description, color photographs, and a provisional IUCN red list assessment are provided, and its geographical distribution, ecology, and morphological relationship with relevant similar species are discussed.

Identifying the Key Genes in Mouse Liver Regeneration After Partial Hepatectomy by Bioinformatics Analysis and in vitro/vivo Experiments.

BACKGROUND: The liver is the only organ that can completely regenerate after various injuries or tissue loss. There are still a large number of gene functions in liver regeneration that have not been explored. This study aimed to identify key genes in the early stage of liver regeneration in mice after partial hepatectomy (PH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We first analyzed the expression profiles of genes in mouse liver at 48 and 72 h after PH from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Gene ontology (GO), and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis were performed to identify key genes in liver regeneration. Finally, we validated key genes in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS: We identified 46 upregulated genes and 19 downregulated genes at 48 h after PH, and 223 upregulated genes and 40 downregulated genes at 72 h after PH, respectively. These genes were mainly involved in cell cycle, DNA replication, and p53 signaling pathway. Among of these genes, cycle-related genes (Ccna2, Cdkn1a, Chek1, and Mcm5) and Ube2c were highly expressed in the residual liver both at 48 and 72 h after PH. Furthermore, Ube2c knockdown not only caused abnormal expression of Ccna2, Cdkn1a, Chek1, and Mcm5, but also inhibited transition of hepatocytes from G1 to S phase of the cell cycle in vitro. CONCLUSION: Mouse hepatocytes enter the proliferation phase at 48 h after PH. Ube2c may mediate cell proliferation by regulating or partially regulating Ccna2, Cdkn1a, Chek1, and Mcm5.

A DNA small molecular probe with increasing K+ concentration promoted selectivity.

DNA small molecular probe study was considered as a promising approach to achieve DNA related disease diagnosis. Most related reports were performed under specific salinity. Herein, 4-imino-3-(pyridin-2-yl)-4H-quinolizine-1-carbonitrile (IPQC) was generated via a facile procedure with high yield (85%). It is found that IPQC could act as a universal probe for most tested ssDNA, dsDNA and G4 DNA in low [K+] concentration (less than 20 mM). However, IPQC showed highly selective G4 DNA binding via UV-vis and fluorescence response in increasing [K+] (e.g., 150 mM) conditions. The ion atmosphere effects are instructive for DNA probe exploration. This provides guidance for the design, selection and optimization of the probes for target DNA sensing.

The association of the heterogeneity of HBV reverse transcriptase quasispecies with antiviral efficacy after treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogues for 10 years.

To assess the heterogeneity of HBV reverse transcriptase (RT) quasispecies during 10 years of antiviral therapy and their association with antiviral efficacy. Nineteen patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection receiving nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) were enrolled. Based on the antiviral efficacy after 1 year of treatment, 5 patients were grouped into an early virologic response (EVR) group, while 8 patients were grouped into a late virologic response (LVR) group. Furthermore, 6 CHB patients that had undergone antiviral treatment for 10 years were grouped into a virologic breakthrough (VBT) group. The HBV RT from each patient were amplified, cloned, and sequenced. The complexity of the RT gene in the EVR group was significantly higher than that in the LVR (P = 0.0393) and VBT groups (P = 0.0141). Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the average branch length of the EVR and LVR groups were significantly greater than that of VBT group (P < 0.001). The complexity (at the nucleotide level) of the RT quasispecies was negatively correlated with the corresponding HBV DNA load (P = 0.0163) at one year post-antiviral treatment. Moreover, both the LVR and VBT groups accumulated more deleterious mutations than the EVR group. After 1 year of NAs treatment, the increased HBV quasispecies complexity and evolutionary topologies, coupled with less deleterious mutations, are likely associated with a favorable efficacy during long-term antiviral treatment.

Structurally diverse limonoids and bio-active evaluation from Trichilia connaroides.

Four new limonoids, named as trichiconlide G (1), 2-hydroxyltrijugin F (2), 23-oxo-21-hydroxyltrijugin F (3), 21-oxo-23-hydroxyltrijugin F (4), along with sixteen known analogues (5-20) were isolated from the leaves and twigs of Trichilia connaroides. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic analyses, X-ray diffraction analysis, and TD-DFT-ECD calculations. Trichiconlide G (1) is one rare naturally occurring 1,2-seco phragmalin-type limonoid bearing a C-7/28 δ-lactone ring. Additionally, 2-hydroxyltrijugin F (2), 23-oxo-21-hydroxyltrijugin F (3), and 21-oxo-23-hydroxyltrijugin F (4) are three naturally occurring limonoids with a rare C-16/8 δ-lactone ring. All isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities. None of compounds exhibited cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines A-549, HepG2, 5-8F, Siha, and SCC-4 at the concentration of 40 µM. Compounds 16 and 17 showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 values of 28.45 ± 2.51 and 22.66 ± 2.01 µM, respectively.

Structurally diverse steroids with nitric oxide inhibitory activities from Aglaia lawii leaves.

Eleven previously uncharacterized steroids, along with three analogs were isolated from Aglaia lawii leaves. Their structures were definitely characterized by the methods of NMR, MS, IR, ECD and X-ray crystallography study. Among these unreported compounds, 3-epi-dyscusin C, 3-epi-lansisterone E and (Z)-2α-hydroxyaglawone were C-21 pregnane steroids incorporating a highly oxygenated ring A, while others were Δ5-3ß-hydroxy-7-ketosteroids bearing different ring D and C-17 aliphatic chains. All isolates were evaluated for nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activities. 3-Epi-dyscusin C, 3-epi-lansisterone E, (Z)-2α-hydroxyaglawone and 17(20)E-dyscusin B showed significant anti-inflammatory activities with IC50 values of NO inhibition less than 10 µM (in the range from 4.47 ± 0.36 to 7.67 ± 0.46 µM).

3D digital image microscope system-assisted vasovasostomy and vasoepididymostomy in rats.

Optimal vision and ergonomics are essential factors contributing to the achievement of good results during microsurgery. The three-dimensional (3D) digital image microscope system with a better 3D depth of field can release strain on the surgeon's neck and back, which can improve outcomes in microsurgery. We report a randomized prospective study of vasoepididymostomy and vasovasostomy using a 3D digital image microscope system (3D-DIM) in rats. A total of 16 adult male rats were randomly divided into two groups of 8 each: the standard operating microscope (SOM) group and the 3D-DIM group. The outcomes measured included the operative time, real-time postoperative mechanical patency, and anastomosis leakage. Furthermore, a user-friendly microscope score was designed to evaluate the ergonomic design and equipment characteristics of the microscope. There were no differences in operative time between the two groups. The real-time postoperative mechanical patency rates were 100.0% for both groups. The percentage of vasoepididymostomy anastomosis leakage was 16.7% in the SOM group and 25.0% in the 3D-DIM group; however, no vasovasostomy anastomosis leakage was found in either group. In terms of the ergonomic design, the 3D-DIM group obtained better scores based on the surgeon's feelings; in terms of the equipment characteristics, the 3D-DIM group had lower scores for clarity and higher scores for flexibility and adaptivity. Based on our randomized prospective study in a rat model, we believe that the 3D-DIM can improve surgeon comfort without compromising outcomes in male infertility reconstructive microsurgery, so the 3D-DIM might be widely used in the future.