High-Precision Photoacoustic Nitrogen Dioxide Gas Analyzer for Fast Dynamic Measurement.

A high-precision photoacoustic (PA) gas analyzer for fast dynamic measurement of ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was developed. The PA analyzer used a differential PA cell combined with two mufflers to achieve rapid gas flow gas detection. A high-power laser diode (LD) with a center wavelength of 450 nm was used as the PA signal excitation source. To reduce the saturated absorption effect of NO2, ambient air was pumped into the analyzer at a flow rate of 900 sccm. Two mufflers were combined with the differential PA cell to reduce the noise caused by the airflow and pump. The parameters of the mufflers were optimized by using a finite element method. The experimental results showed that the gas flow noise was suppressed by 95%. The response time of the PAS analyzer was 34 s. The detection limits of the analyzer were 0.64 and 0.17 ppb when the integration times were 1 and 15 s, respectively. A 120 h continuous monitoring result was compared with the data from the National Environmental Monitoring Station to demonstrate the high reliability of the analyzer.

Multi-pass Differential Photoacoustic Sensor for Real-Time Measurement of SF6 Decomposition Component H2S at the ppb Level.

We designed and implemented a photoacoustic (PA) sensor for H2S detection in SF6 background gas based on a multi-pass differential photoacoustic cell (MDPC) and a near-infrared distributed feedback (DFB) laser. In the MDPC apparatus, two resonators with identical geometric parameters were vertically and symmetrically embedded. The differential processing algorithm of two phase-reversed signals realized the effective enhancement of the PA signal and suppressed the flow noise in the dynamic sampling process. In addition, the λ/4 buffer chamber in the MDPC was utilized as a muffler to further reduce the flow noise and realize the dynamic detection of H2S. The collimated excitation light was reflected 30 times in a multi-pass structure constituted of two gold-plated concave mirrors, and an absorption path length of 4.92 m was achieved. Due to the high gas density of SF6, the relationship between the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the gas flow was different between SF6 and N2 background gases. The maximum flow rate of the characteristic gas components detected in the SF6 background is 150 standard cubic centimeters per minute (SCCM), which is lower than 350 SCCM in N2. The linearity property was analyzed, and the results show that the sensitivity of the sensor to H2S in the SF6 background was 27.3 µV/ppm. With the structure, parameters, temperature, gas flow, and natural frequency of the MDPC been optimized, a minimum detection limit (MDL) of 11 ppb was reached with an averaging time of 1000 s, which furnished an effective preventive implement for the safe operation of gas insulation equipment.

A sentiment analysis driven method based on public and personal preferences with correlated attributes to select online doctors.

This paper proposes a method to assist patients in finding the most appropriate doctor for online medical consultation. To do that, it constructs an online doctor selection decision-making method that considers the correlation attributes, in which the measure of attribute correlation is derived from the history real decision data. To combine public and personal preference with correlated attributes, it proposes a Choquet integral based comprehensive online doctor ranking method. In detail, a two stage classification model based on BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) is used to extract service features from unstructured text reviews. Then, 2-additive fuzzy measure is adopted to represent the patient public group aggregated attribute preference. Next, a novel optimization model is proposed to combine the public preference and personal preference. Finally, a case study of dxy.com is carried out to illustrate the procedure of the method. The comparison result between proposed method and other traditional MADM (multi-attribute decision-making) methods prove its rationality.

High-Sensitivity Silicon Cantilever-Enhanced Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Analyzer with Low Gas Consumption.

A silicon cantilever-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS)-based trace gas analyzer with low gas consumption is presented. A silicon cantilever-based fiber-optic Fabry-Perot (F-P) interferometric acoustic sensor with a compact structure and high sensitivity is designed for photoacoustic signal detection. The non-resonant photoacoustic cell (PAC) is a cylindrical copper tube with a volume of 0.56 mL. A near-infrared laser with a center wavelength of 1532.83 nm amplified using an erbium-doped fiber application amplifier is used as the excitation light. The wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) technique is employed in the present work for second-harmonic photoacoustic signal detection. The experimental results show that the minimum detection limit of C2H2 is 199.8 parts per trillion (ppt) with an average time of 60 s. The normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient is calculated as 1.72 × 10-9 cm-1 W/Hz1/2. Furthermore, the proposed silicon cantilever-enhanced non-resonant PAS-based gas analyzer can not only analyze the gas concentration in a closed small-capacity PAC with low gas consumption but also detect target gas leakage in real time at a long distance.

Ultrasonography Can Replace CT Scans as the Initial Imaging Examination of Ureteral Calculi.

OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of ultrasonography (US) as a replacement for CT during the diagnosis of ureteral calculi (UC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical and imaging data of patients with UC between January 2013 and December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the imaging method, patients were divided into 3 groups: Group A, CT alone; Group B, CT and US, Group C, US alone. Age, location, and the size of stones were compared among the groups. According to the maximum diameter (MD) measured by using CT in Group B, patients were subdivided into 3 groups (subgroup 1-3): MD <0.5 cm, 0.5 cm ≤ MD ≤1.0 cm, and MD >1.0 cm. The MD measured by US and CT were compared in the subgroups. RESULTS: A total of 1,289 patients with UC were admitted. The use of CT correlated with age (p = 0.000) and stone location (p = 0.004). The sensitivity and specificity of US were 71.3 and 100%. Positive US results correlated with stone size (p = 0.008), but not location (p = 0.861). The mean MDs of the calculi measured by US and CT: in subgroup 1:  0.80 ± 0.31 and 0.35 ± 0.05 cm (p = 0.000); in subgroup 2: 0.94 ± 0.32 and 0.72 ± 0.16 cm (p = 0.000); in subgroup 3: 1.75 ± 0.68 and 1.59 ± 0.52 cm (p = 0.094). CONCLUSIONS: US confirmed that UC do not require confirmatory CT. US can replace CT as the initial imaging examination of UC.

Highly efficient and aberration-free off-plane grating spectrometer and monochromator for EUV-soft X-ray applications.

We demonstrate a novel flat-field, dual-optic imaging EUV-soft X-ray spectrometer and monochromator that attains an unprecedented throughput efficiency exceeding 60% by design, along with a superb spectral resolution of λ/Δλ > 200 accomplished without employing variable line spacing gratings. Exploiting the benefits of the conical diffraction geometry, the optical system is globally optimized in multidimensional parameter space to guarantee optimal imaging performance over a broad spectral range while maintaining circular and elliptical polarization states at the first, second, and third diffraction orders. Moreover, our analysis indicates minimal temporal dispersion, with pulse broadening confined within 80 fs tail-to-tail and an FWHM value of 29 fs, which enables ultrafast spectroscopic and pump-probe studies with femtosecond accuracy. Furthermore, the spectrometer can be effortlessly transformed into a monochromator spanning the EUV-soft X-ray spectral region using a single grating with an aberration-free spatial profile. Such capability allows coherent diffractive imaging applications to be conducted with highly monochromatic light in a broad spectral range and extended to the soft X-ray region with minimal photon loss, thus facilitating state-of-the-art imaging of intricate nano- and bio-systems, with a significantly enhanced spatiotemporal resolution, down to the nanometer-femtosecond level.

Multi-mechanism collaboration enhanced photoacoustic analyzer for trace H2S detection.

To realize the real-time highly sensitive detection of SF6 decomposition product H2S, a multi-mechanism collaboration enhancement photoacoustic spectroscopy analyzer (MCEPA) based on acoustic resonance enhancement, cantilever enhancement and excitation light enhancement is proposed. An SF6 background gas-induced photoacoustic cell (PAC) was used for acoustic resonance (AR) enhancement of the photoacoustic signals. A fiber-optic acoustic sensor based on a silicon cantilever is optimized and fabricated. The narrow-band acoustic signal enhancement based on cantilever mechanical resonance (MR) is realized in the optimal working frequency band of the PAC. A fiber-coupled DFB cascaded an Erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) realized the light power enhancement (LPE) of the photoacoustic signals excitation source. Experimental results show that the MR of the fiber-optic silicon cantilever acoustic sensor (FSCAS) is matched with the AR of the PAC and combined with the LPE, which realizes the multi-mechanism collaboration enhancement of weak photoacoustic signals. The Allan-Werle deviation evaluation showed that the minimum detection limit of H2S in the SF6 background is 10.96 ppb when the average time is 200 s. Benefiting from the all-optimization of photoacoustic excitation and detection, the MCEPA has near-field high-sensitivity gas detection capability immune to electromagnetic interference.

Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 supplementation for male infertility with high sperm DNA fragmentation index: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Infertility is a focal issue in public health and affects human reproduction and survival. Notably, an increasing number of studies in recent decades have found that sperm DNA integrity plays a critical role in the development of healthy embryos. Among the multiple pathogenic factors of sperm DNA fragmentation, oxidative stress has proven to be predominant. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation, which has been used for the treatment of male infertility, has shown good clinical efficacy due to its oxidation resistance, but its efficacy as measured by the sperm DNA fragmentation index remains controversial. To address this issue, we will perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of coenzyme Q10 for male infertility patients with a high sperm DNA fragmentation index. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Studies and Web of Science databases will be comprehensively searched from inception to 31 December 2022 to identify relevant studies published in the English language using appropriate search strategies. The search terms will be derived from the following concepts: sperm DNA fragmentation, coenzyme Q10 and randomised controlled trials. Two review stages, that is, title and abstract screening and full-text screening, will be performed by two reviewers. The risk of bias, publication bias and evidence grade of the included studies will be assessed using a standardised protocol. Data will be used to calculate effect sizes. Heterogeneity among the studies will be evaluated graphically. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis will be performed if necessary to validate the results. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No ethical approval will be needed, as there will be no participants in this study. We will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to disseminate the findings through publication and conference presentation. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022293340.

The immunologic injury composite with balloon injury leads to dyslipidemia: a robust rabbit model of human atherosclerosis and vulnerable plaque.

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which a lipid deposition, thrombus formation, immune cell infiltration, and a chronic inflammatory response, but its systemic study has been hampered by the lack of suitable animal models, especially in herbalism fields. We have tried to perform a perfect animal model that completely replicates the stages of human atherosclerosis. This is the first combined study about the immunologic injury and balloon injury based on the cholesterol diet. In this study, we developed a modified protocol of the white rabbit model that could represent a novel approach to studying human atherosclerosis and vulnerable plaque.

[The indication of bone scan for patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the indication of bone scan for patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. METHODS: The clinical data of continual 95 patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer was involved between January 2006 and December 2010. The relationship between age, PSA, Gleason scores, clinical stage and positive bone scans was respectively compared. RESULTS: The 33 patients (34.7%) with positive bone scans and 62 patients (65.3%) with negative bone scans. The mean age was (74±7) years and (76±7) years respectively in 2 groups respectively. PSA was (70.7±38.1) ng/ml and (28.4±27.2) ng/ml respectively, the difference was significant (t=-5.499, P=0.000). Clinical stage had positive correlation with positive bone scan, the OR value was 4.684. If the Gleason score>7, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of positive bone scan was 64%, 63%, 48% and 77% respectively. If PSA>50 ng/ml, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value was 67%, 86%, 71% and 83% respectively. If Clinical stage>T2, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value was 82%, 81%, 69% and 89% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with PSA≤10 ng/ml or simultaneously PSA≤50 ng/ml and Gleason score≤7 and clinical stage≤T2, bone scan is not necessary. Patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer and PSA>50 ng/ml or Gleason score>7 or clinical stage>T2 should undergo bone scan.

The effect of acupuncture on oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of animal models.

INTRODUCTION: Oxidative stress is involved in the occurrence and development of multiple diseases. Acupuncture shows an excellent clinical efficacy in practical application but its mechanism remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed at assessing the effect of acupuncture on oxidative stress in animal models. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science database were retrieved for randomized controlled trials about acupuncture on oxidative stress in animal models from inception to August 2021. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted articles according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. We used the mean difference (MD)/standardized mean difference (SMD) to perform an effect size analysis and selected fixed-effect or random-effect models to pool the data, depending on a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: A total of 12 studies comprising 125 samples were included in the quantitative meta-analysis. Compared with sham acupuncture, acupuncture (manual acupuncture, electropuncture, and laser acupuncture) reduced the level of malondialdehyde (SMD, -3.03; CI, -4.40, -1.65; p < 0.00001) and increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SMD, 3.39; CI, 1.99, 4.79; p < 0.00001), glutathione peroxidase (SMD, 2.21; CI, 1.10, 3.32; p < 0.00001), and catalase (SMD, 2.80; CI, 0.57, 5.03; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis indicated that acupuncture can regulate oxidative stress by lowering the lipid peroxidation and activating the antioxidant enzyme system. In consideration of heterogeneity between studies, future studies should be performed by complying with strict standards and increasing sample size in animal experiments to reduce bias.

Recent improvements in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays based on nanomaterials.

As a gold standard technique, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) organically combines immunoreactions between antigens and antibodies with enzyme catalysis. The use of ELISA has contributed to advances in applications such as clinical diagnosis, food quality control, and environmental monitoring. However, conventional ELISA suffer from the moderate sensitivity and reliance on enzyme activity, which make it impossible to reliably and inexpensively detect trace targets. The nanotechnology boom has yielded exciting developments in designing nanomaterial-based improved ELISA in recent years. In this review, we attempt to comprehensively describe the improvements in ELISA methodology based on nanomaterials, with a focus on the mode of signal detection, such as colorimetric, fluorescent, electrochemical, photothermal, and Raman scattering sensing. We particularly emphasized on how nanomaterials are used as loading carriers, enzyme mimics, and signal reporters. This review concerns on partially representative examples and describes novel concepts and promising applications, rather than being exhaustive. Finally, we outline the challenges and perspectives, hopefully provide brief guideline to develop neotype improved ELISA.

An In Situ Generated Prussian Blue Nanoparticle-Mediated Multimode Nanozyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Detection of Aflatoxin B1.

This work aims to develop a novel multimode (photothermal/colorimetric/fluorescent) nanozyme-linked immunosorbent assay (NLISA) based on the in situ generation of Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs) on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Being considered the most toxic among the mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was chosen as the proof-of-concept target. In this strategy, MNPs, on which an AFB1 aptamer was previously assembled via streptavidin-biotin linkage, are anchored to 96-well plates by AFB1 and antibody. In the presence of HCl and K4Fe(CN)6, PBNPs formed in situ on the MNP surface, thereby achieving photothermal and colorimetric signal readout due to their photothermal effect and intrinsic peroxidase-like activity. Based on fluorescence quenching by MNPs, Cy5 fluorescence was recovered by the in situ generation of PBNPs to facilitate ultrasensitive fluorescence detection. Photothermal and colorimetric signals allow portable/visual point-of-care testing, and fluorescent signals enable accurate determination with a detection limit of 0.54 fg/mL, which is 6333 and 28 times lower than those of photothermal and colorimetric analyses, respectively. We expect that this proposed multimode NLISA can not only reduce the false-positive/negative rates through the multisignal crossdetection in AFB1 monitoring but also provide a universal way of sophisticated instrumentation-free, easy-to-use, cost-effective, and highly sensitive detection of other food hazards.

Mental health outcomes among patients from Fangcang shelter hospitals exposed to coronavirus disease 2019: An observational cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not only attacking physical health, but it is also increasing psychological suffering. This study aimed to observe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health outcomes among patients with mild to moderate illness in Fangcang shelter hospitals. METHODS: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study of 129 patients with mild to moderate illness from Jiangxia Fangcang shelter hospitals in Wuhan, China. The participants were assessed by quantifying their symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and stressful life events and analyzing potential risk factors associated with these symptoms. Using correlation analysis, we examined associations between exposure to COVID-19 and subsequent psychological distress in response to the outbreak. RESULTS: In total, 49.6% of participants had depressive or anxiety symptoms. The depressive and anxiety symptoms were highly related to sleep disturbances and hypochondriasis (all r > 0.50, P < 0.01). The impact of the event was positively related to depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, sleep disturbances, hypochondriasis and life events (all r > 0.35, P < 0.01) but was negatively related to psychological resilience (r = -0.41, P < 0.01). The presence of the COVID-19 infection in this setting was associated with increased anxiety, depression and stress levels, and decreased sleep quality, and seriously affected patients' quality of life as well as adversely affecting the course and prognosis of physical diseases. CONCLUSION: The sleep quality, anxiety, and depression of COVID-19 patients in Fangcang shelter hospitals were significantly related to the impact of the epidemic.

Efficacy and Safety of Ningmitai Capsule in Patients With Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the efficacy and safety of Ningmitai capsule (NMT) in the patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 120 men with CP/CPPS to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NMT. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to NMT or placebo treatment for 4 weeks at 3 centres. The patients were evaluated by the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) at baseline, the end of 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. The primary endpoints were the changes of the NIH-CPSI pain scores from baseline to the end of 2 and 4 weeks of the treatment. The secondary endpoints include the changes of the NIH-CPSI total scores, urinary symptoms scores and the quality of life (QoL) as well as the responder rate. RESULTS: After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, the mean decreases of the NIH-CPSI pain scores, total scores and QoL in the NMT group were all significantly superior to those in the placebo group. The responder rate was significantly higher in the NMT group than that in the placebo group at both 2 and 4 weeks. No adverse events were reported during the treatment. CONCLUSION: NMT could significantly improve the pain symptoms and QoL in the patients with CP/CPPS as early as in 2 weeks, and the efficacy enhanced at the end of the 4-week treatment. The safety of NMT was confirmed in this trial.

Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis Reveals Essential Genes and Pathways in Bipolar Disorder.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a major and highly heritable mental illness with severe psychosocial impairment, but its etiology and pathogenesis remains unclear. This study aimed to identify the essential pathways and genes involved in BD using weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), a bioinformatic method studying the relationships between genes and phenotypes. Using two available BD gene expression datasets (GSE5388, GSE5389), we constructed a gene coexpression network and identified modules related to BD. The analyses of Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways were performed to explore functional enrichment of the candidate modules. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was further constructed to identify the potential hub genes. Ten coexpression modules were identified from the top 5,000 genes in 77 samples and three modules were significantly associated with BD, which were involved in several biological processes (e.g., the actin filament-based process) and pathways (e.g., MAPK signaling). Four genes (NOTCH1, POMC, NGF, and DRD2) were identified as candidate hub genes by PPI analysis and CytoHubba. Finally, we carried out validation analyses in a separate dataset, GSE12649, and verified NOTCH1 as a hub gene and the involvement of several biological processes such as actin filament-based process and axon development. Taken together, our findings revealed several candidate pathways and genes (NOTCH1) in the pathogenesis of BD and call for further investigation for their potential research values in BD diagnosis and treatment.

Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis Identifies Specific Modules and Hub Genes Related to Major Depression.

PURPOSE: Despite advances in characterizing the neurobiology of emotional disorders, there is still a significant lack of scientific understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms governing major depressive disorder (MDD). This study attempted to elucidate the molecular circuitry of MDD and to identify more potential genes associated with the pathogenesis of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Microarray data from the GSE98793 dataset were downloaded from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, including 128 patients with MDD and 64 healthy controls. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to find modules of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with high correlations followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses to obtain further biological insight into the top three key modules. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, the modules from the PPI network, and the gene annotation enrichment of modules were analyzed, as well. RESULTS: We filtered 3276 genes that were considered significant DEGs for further WGCNA analysis. By performing WGCNA, we found that the turquoise, blue and brown functional modules were all strongly correlated with MDD development, including immune response, neutrophil degranulation, ribosome biogenesis, T cell activation, glycosaminoglycan biosynthetic process, and protein serine/threonine kinase activator activity. Hub genes were identified in the key functional modules that might have a role in the progression of MDD. Functional annotation showed that these modules primarily enriched such KEGG pathways as the TNF signaling pathway, T cell receptor signaling pathway, primary immunodeficiency, Th1, Th2 and Th17 cell differentiation, autophagy and RNA degradation and oxidative phosphorylation. These results suggest that these genes are closely related to autophagy and cellular immune function. CONCLUSION: The results of this study may help to elucidate the pathophysiology of MDD development at the molecular level and explore the potential molecular mechanisms for new interventional strategies.

Identification of Key Genes and the Pathophysiology Associated With Major Depressive Disorder Patients Based on Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis.

Background: At present, laboratory blood tests to support major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosis are not available. This study aimed to screen potential mRNAs for peripheral blood biomarkers and novel pathophysiology of MDD. Methods: The present study utilized public data from two mRNA microarray datasets to analyze the hub genes changes related to MDD. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were performed. Finally, some potential mRNA quality biomarkers for hub gene expression in blood were identified. Results: A total of 25 significantly co-upregulated DEGs and 98 co-downregulated DEGs were obtained from two datasets. The pathway enrichment analyses showed that co-upregulated genes were significantly enriched in the regulation of cell-matrix adhesion and mitochondrial membrane permeability which were involved in the apoptotic process. Co-downregulated genes were mainly involved in the neutrophil activation which in turn was involved in the immune response, degranulation and cell-mediated immunity, positive regulation of immune response, the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. From the PPI network, 14 hub genes were obtained. Among them, the subnetworks of PLCG1, BCL2A1, TLR8, FADD, and TLR4 screened out from our study have been shown to play a role in immune and inflammation responses. Discussion: The potential molecular mechanisms that have been identified simultaneously include innate immunity, neuroinflammation, and neurotrophic factors for synapse function and development.

[Measuring and analyzing infrared spectrum of periodically polarized lithium niobate].

The present paper reports theoretical and experimental research on the tunable output characteristics of periodically polarized lithium niobate. We made six equal distance crystal grating sections, with each distance being 0.5 mm and the polarization period range of 29.0-31.5 mm. Especially, at room temperature, the signal-wavelength tunable output in the range of 1 449.7-1 665.0 nm and idle-wavelength tunable output in the range of 3 989.2-2 946.0 nm were achieved by LD end-pumped Nd : YVO4 laser with Q-switch in sound-wave. The lowest excitation threshold was 108.0 mW, while the highest excitation threshold was 149.2 mW. When the pump power was 649 mW, the highest gained signal-wave output was 118.5 mW and its conversion efficiency was 18.26%. Meanwhile, the idle-wave output was 46.6 mW and its conversion efficiency was 7.18%. These parameters approached the practicality level.

Predicting pubic arch interference in permanent prostate brachytherapy based on the specific parameters derived from nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to establish a more reliable method to predict pubic arch interference (PAI) before permanent prostate brachytherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results of forty patients with prostate cancer, who were treated with permanent implantation of 125I seeds (permanent brachytherapy). We measured and calculated six parameters based on the MRI results: 1. The prostate volume (PV); 2. The angle of the pubic arch (AoPA); 3. The angle of PAI (AoPAI, pubic symphysis level); 4. The height of PAI (hPAI, pubic symphysis level); 5. The maximum angle of PAI (AoPAIMax); 6. The maximum height of PAI (hPAIMax). We then tested which parameters could accurately predict PAI through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: The results of this study demonstrated that AoPAI, hPAI, hPAIMax, and AoPAIMax could predict PAI. Out of forty cases in our research, 10 cases were with PAI and 30 cases without PAI during the operation. The areas under the ROC curve for PV, AoPA, AoPAI (pubic symphysis level), hPAI (pubic symphysis level), AoPAIMax, and hPAIMax were 0.592, 0.567, 0.957, 0.940, 0.927, and 0.877, respectively. The AoPAI (pubic symphysis level), hPAI (pubic symphysis level), AoPAIMax, and hPAIMax were statistically correlated with PAI. The boundary values were 26.32°, 1.13 cm, 28.37°, and 1.51 cm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This new method derived from MRI has predictive value, as AoPAI, hPAI, hPAIMax, and AoPAIMax could predict PAI. Taking other factors into consideration, we suggest the use of AoPAI as a novel and very reliable predictor of PAI.