[Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy improves symptoms of erectile dysfunction: A preliminary study].

OBJECTIVE: To verify the effect and safety of low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (Li-ESWT) in improving the symptoms of ED, and provide some reference for further related large-scale clinical trials. METHODS: Twenty-six patients diagnosed with ED received Li-ESWT with an energy of 0.09 mJ/mm2 for 20 minutes once a week for 6 four-week courses. Before and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after treatment, we obtained the IIEF-5 and Erectile Hardness Scale (EHS) scores of the patients using questionnaires, recorded the incidence of treatment-related adverse reactions, compared the erectile function of the patients before and after treatment, and evaluated the effect and safety of Li-ESWT in improving ED-related symptoms. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, the IIEF-5 scores of the patients were significantly increased (P < 0.01) while the EHS scores slightly increased at 3 months after Li-ESWT treatment (P > 0.05), both IIEF-5 and EHS scores were dramatically increased at 6 months (P < 0.01), and both significantly higher than at 3 months. At 9 months, EHS scores remained remarkably higher than the baseline (P < 0.01) although IIEF-5 scores slightly lower than at 6 months. At 12 months, however, IIEF-5 scores decreased, though still significantly higher than the baseline (P < 0.01), and EHS scores became lower than at 6 and 9 months (P < 0.05) but still markedly higher than before treatment (P < 0.05). Adverse reactions observed during the intervention mainly included pruritus (4.35%), pain (2.90%), paresthesia (2.17%), and petechiae/ecchymosis (2.90%). CONCLUSION: Li-ESWT can increase the IIEF-5 and EHS scores and improve the clinical symptoms of ED patients, with a low incidence of adverse reactions during the treatment.

[Prostate-specific membrane antigen-targeted drug delivery system for prostate cancer].

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a most common malignancy in the genitourinary system, which imposes a huge burden on the patients and society. Various traditional medication methods fail to achieve satisfactory effects, and therefore it is imperative to develop innovative and effective routes of administration. Drug delivery systems have the characteristics of both delivery and controlled release and are widely used clinically. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is one of the most characteristic and highly selective biomarkers of PCa with a good PCa-targetability. Many drug delivery systems targeting PSMA have been explored, including drug-ligand conjugates and nano-drug delivery systems (polymer nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, liposomes, and biological nanoparticles, etc.). This article reviews the recent studies on the role of the PSMA-targeting drug delivery system in PCa, in order to provide some reference for the precise and effective treatment of the malignancy.

The discovery of the genus Spasskia Belokobylskij, 1989 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in China, with description of a new species.

The genus Spasskia Belokobylskij, 1989 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Helconinae) is reported for the first time from China. Two species, namely Spasskia brevicarinata Yan et Chen sp. n.and Spasskia indica Singh, Belokobylskij et Chauhan, 2005 are described and illustrated. A key to the species of this genus is updated to include the new species.

The subgenus Choeras Mason, 1981 of genus Apanteles Foerster, 1862 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from China, with descriptions of eighteen new species.

The subgenus Choeras Mason, 1981 of genus Apanteles Foerster, 1862 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from China is revised with 18 new species described and illustrated, and one known species redescribed. A key to the Chinese species of this subgenus is provided.

The genus Ademon Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Opiinae) from China, with descriptions of two new species.

The species of Ademon Haliday (Braconidae, Opiiinae) from China are studied. Two new species are described: A. lechrilophodes sp. nov. and A. xuthus sp. nov., and a key to the identification of Old World Ademon is provided.

The grandiculus- and metacarpalis-group of the genus Apanteles Foerster, 1862 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from China, with descriptions of eight new species.

Two species groups (the grandiculus- and the metacarpalis-group) of genus Apanteles Foerster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from China are revised and keyed, with eight new species, namely, A. muticiculus Liu & Chen, sp. n., A. parvus Liu & Chen, sp. n. and A. flavicapus Liu & Chen, sp. n. of the grandiculus-group; A. transtergum Liu & Chen, sp. n., A. malleus Liu & Chen, sp. n., A. dumosus Liu & Chen, sp. n. A. cosmopterygivorus Liu & Chen, sp. n. and A. incurvus Liu & Chen, sp. n. of the metacarpalis-group, and two newly recorded species of the metacarpalis-group described and illustrated. Keys to the Chinese species of these two species-groups are provided.

The discovery of genus Fredegunda Fitton, Shaw & Gauld in China, with description of a new species (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae).

The genus Fredegunda Fitton, Shaw & Gauld (Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae) is newly reported both from China and the Oriental region. A new species, Fredegunda sinica sp. nov. from Fujian, China is described and illustrated. A key to the known species of Fredegunda is provided.

Two genera Foersteria Szépligeti, 1896 and Polydegmon Foerster, 1862 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Brachistinae) from China, with description of a new species.

The genera Foersteria Szépligeti, 1896 and Polydegmon Foerster, 1862 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Brachistinae) are recorded for the first time from China. A new species, Foersteria xinjiangensis Yan & Chen, sp. nov., is described and illustrated. A key to the Palaearctic species of Foersteria is given. In addition, Polydegmon sinuatus Foerster, 1862 is illustrated in detail for the first time.

Heterospilus Haliday, 1836 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Doryctinae) from China with a key to species.

The Chinese species of the genus Heterospilus Haliday, 1836 from the Parasitic Hymenoptera Collection of Zhejiang University were studied and thirty-four species are recognized, including 12 previously described species. Eighteen new species of this genus are described and illustrated: Heterospilus (Heterospilus) alternicoloratus sp. nov., H.(H.) balicyba sp. nov., H.(H.) chui sp. nov., H.(H.) curvisulcus sp. nov., H.(H.) densistriatus sp. nov., H.(H.) fujianensis sp. nov., H.(H.) jianfengensis sp. nov., H.(H.) liui sp. nov., H.(H.) longiventrius sp. nov., H.(H.) nanlingensis sp. nov., H.(H.) parvus sp. nov., H.(H.) prodigiosus sp. nov., H.(H.) punctatus sp. nov., H.(H.) qingliangensis sp. nov., H.(H.) semidepressus sp. nov., H.(H.) setosiscutum sp. nov., H.(H.) setosus sp. nov., and H.(H.) tenuitergum sp. nov. Seven species of Heterospilus are recorded for China for the first time: H. (Eoheterospilus) rubrocinctus (Ashmead, 1905), H.(H.) alboapicalis Belokobylskij, 1994, H.(H.) ater Fischer, 1960, H.(H.) cephi Rohwer, 1925, H.(H.) kerzhneri Belokobylskij et Maetô, 2009, H.(H.) tauricus Telenga, 1941, and H.(H.) tulyensis Belokobylskij, 1994. Two new synonyms are proposed: H. asiaticola Belokobylskij et Maetô, 2009 with H. chinensis Chen et Shi, 2004 and H. gracilis Shi et Chen with H. separatus Fischer, 1960. A key to the Chinese species of Heterospilus is provided.

Comparison of revascularization and conservative treatment for hemorrhagic moyamoya disease in East Asian Countries: a single-center case series and a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Objective: The optimal treatment approach for hemorrhagic moyamoya disease (HMMD) remains a topic of debate, particularly regarding the comparative efficacy of revascularization versus conservative treatment. Our study, which included a single-center case series and a systematic review with meta-analysis, aimed to determine whether surgical revascularization is associated with a significant reduction in postoperative rebleeding, ischemic events, and mortality compared to conservative treatment among East Asian HMMD patients. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review by searching PubMed, Google Scholar, Wanfang Med Online (WMO), and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The outcomes of surgical revascularization and conservative treatment, including rebleeding, ischemic events and mortality, were compared. The authors' institutional series of 24 patients were also included and reviewed in the analysis. Results: A total of 19 East Asian studies involving 1,571 patients as well as our institution's retrospective study of 24 patients were included in the study. In the adult patients-only studies, those who underwent revascularization had significantly lower rates of rebleeding, ischemic events, and mortality compared to those who received conservative treatment (13.1% (46/352) vs. 32.4% (82/253), P < 0.00001; 4.0% (5/124) vs. 14.9% (18/121), P = 0.007; and 3.3% (5/153) vs. 12.6% (12/95), P = 0.01, respectively). In the adult/pediatric patients' studies, similar statistical results of rebleeding, ischemic events, and mortality have been obtained (70/588 (11.9%) vs. 103/402 (25.6%), P = 0.003 or <0.0001 in a random or fixed-effects model, respectively; 14/296 (4.7%) vs. 26/183 (14.2%), P = 0.001; and 4.6% (15/328) vs. 18.7% (23/123), P = 0.0001, respectively). Conclusion: The current single-center case series and systematic review with meta-analysis of studies demonstrated that surgical revascularization, including direct, indirect, and a combination of both, significantly reduces rebleeding, ischemic events, and mortality in HMMD patients in the East Asia region. More well-designed studies are warranted to further confirm these findings.

Interspecific competition between two endoparasitoids Cotesia vestalis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Oomyzus sokolowskii (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).

Two endoparasitoids, Cotesia vestalis and Oomyzus sokolowskii, parasitize the same host, larvae of Plutella xylostella. These two species have evolved different parasitization strategies. O. sokolowskii expresses a single factor, venom, and exerts virtually no detrimental effects on the development of its host. C. vestalis, on the other hand, injects polydnavirus (PDV) and venom during oviposition, and teratocytes are released into the host's hemolymph after egg hatching. Parasitization suppresses host immune reactions and redirects its developmental program. Because both these species parasitize the same stage of their hosts, there is the possibility of multiparasitism in nature. Only one species survives multiparasitism and because of its parasitic strategy, we hypothesized that C. vestalis would invariably be the stronger competitor. We designed competition experiments which revealed that C. vestalis is a stronger competitor than O. sokolowskii. We also show that C. vestalis survives intrinsic competition with O. sokolowskii through two mechanisms: physical attack and physiological suppression. We discovered melanized wounds on O. sokolowskii eggs and larvae, which is strong evidence of physical attacks. The physiological suppression is due to PDV and venom injected by C. vestalis. To test this idea more rigorously, we designed a pseudoparasitization experiment which revealed that no O. sokolowskii emerged from multiparasitized hosts when infertile C. vestlais eggs and normal O. sokolowskii larvae are both present inside the same host. These results support our hypothesis that C. vestalis is the stronger competitor and demonstrate two mechanisms that account for the outcome of intrinsic competition between these two endoparasitoids.

A checklist of Scoliidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) from China.

A checklist of all confirmed species of the family Scoliidae (Hymenoptera) from China is made based on the Chinese specimens in the Naturalis Biodiversity Center (RMNH, Leiden) and on additional specimens from the Chinese Academy of Insect Science (IOZ, Beijing), the Zhejiang University (ZJUH, Hangzhou), and the Sun Yat-sen University (SYSUBM, Guangzhou). The Scoliid species from China belong to one subfamily, two tribes, 11 genera and 52 species. Two species are deleted from the fauna of China: Campsomeriella ilanensis (Tsuneki, 1972) and Scolia (Discolia) quadripustulata Fabricius, 1782. One subspecies, i.e., Carinoscolia vittifrons nipponensis Uchida, 1933, status nov., is elevated to species rank. Scolia (Discolia) formosicola Betrem, 1928, status nov. and S. (D.) inouyei Okamoto, 1924 are re-instated valid species.

Taxonomy of Bethylus (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) from China with description of nine new species.

Nine new species as well as a known species of Bethylus Latreille (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) from China are described and illustrated: B. crassicapitis sp. nov., B. convexus sp. nov., B. gansensis sp. nov., B. glabricarinatus sp. nov., B. hunanensis sp. nov., B. incurvus sp. nov., B. ningxicus sp. nov., B. prolatus sp. nov., B. quadraticapitis sp. nov., and B. sinensis Xu, He Terayama. A key to the known Chinese species is provided.

The genus Odontepyris/ Kieffer (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) from China.

Ten new species of Odontepyris Kieffer from China are described and illustrated: O. angustus sp. nov., O. ecarinatus sp. nov., O. eminens sp. nov., O. flavipedis sp. nov., O. hirtus sp. nov., O. latifrontalis sp. nov., O. occiputalis sp. nov., O. xiaoi sp. nov., O. xui sp. nov., and O. yunnanensis sp. nov.. A key to the known Chinese species is provided.

Illustrated keys to Scoliidae (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Scolioidea) from China.

The Scoliidae occur predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions and are ectoparasitoids of Scarabaeoidea larvae (especially of Melolonthinae) which are immobilised, parasitised by the female wasp in their terrestrial larval gallery and buried deeper in a special cell by the female wasp. Herein, we provided, for the first time, illustrated keys to 11 genera and 52 species of Scoliidae from China, based on specimens in the Naturalis Biodiversity Center (RMNH, Leiden) and additional specimens from the Chinese Academy of Insect Science (Beijing), Zhejiang University (ZJUH, Hangzhou) and Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU, Guangzhou) and it is a first attempt to make keys available for all the Scoliidae species in China.

Review of six genera of Braconinae Nees (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) in China, with the description of eleven new species.

The species of six genera (Atanycolus Foerster, Craspedolcus Enderlein, Ectemnoplax Enderlein, Shelfordia Cameron, Stenobracon Szépligeti and Vipio Latreille) of the subfamily Braconinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from China are revised and 29 species are recognized, including 11 new species (Atanycolus carinatus sp. nov., A. longiquus sp. nov., A. maculipennis sp. nov., A. setosus sp. nov., Craspedolcus maculithorax sp. nov., C. nigrabdominalis sp. nov., Ectemnoplax bimaculosus sp. nov., Shelfordia fulva sp. nov., S. obscuripennis sp. nov., Stenobracon (Stenobracon) longatus sp. nov. and Vipio abnormis sp. nov.), which are described and illustrated. Ectemnoplax xizanginensis Wang, Chen et He, 2006, is proposed as a syn. nov. of E. peruliventris Enderlein, 1920. Two species, Shelfordia longicaudata van Achterberg, 1993, and Vipio mongolicus Telenga, 1936, are reported from China for the first time. Keys to the Chinese species of the genera Atanycolus, Craspedolcus, Ectemnoplax, Shelfordia, Stenobracon and Vipio are provided.

The ater-group of the genus Apanteles Foerster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from China with the descriptions of forty-eight new species.

The ater-group including subgroup eublemmae of genus Apanteles Foerster from China is revised, in which a total of 97 species are recorded and illustrated. Forty-eight new species are described and illustrated, i.e., A. albummacula Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. altus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. ambultor Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. amotus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. angustus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. annosus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. aphanofossa Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. aspersus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. attenuator Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. bialtus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. brevitempus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. bulbus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. cannabis Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. carssus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. crassus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. distributa Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. expansus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. flavibasalis Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. fraxinus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. fundum Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. fuscidentalis Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. jasmine Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. lateroglabris Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. limus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. longicoxa Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. longidiscus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. magastigma Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. muscosalis Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. ocellisublimus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. plureseta Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. prominens Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. quadra Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. radocoxa Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. salsala Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. scrobiculatus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. semicarinatus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. stigmaium Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. tenuis Liu Chen, sp. nov.; eublemmae-subgroup: A. alticella Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. aphanoiugum Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. cavitergita Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. impunctus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. lineatella Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. longiala Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. palliditegula Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. rectala Liu Chen, sp. nov.; A. rhombos Liu Chen, sp. nov. and A. setosus Liu Chen, sp. nov. Eleven newly recorded species are redescribed and illustrated, i.e., A. argiope Nixon, 1965; A. brunnistigma Abdinbekova, 1969; A. cerberus Nixon, 1965; A. chloris Nixon, 1965; A. cocotis Wilkinson, 1934; A. demades Nixon, 1965; A. medon Nixon, 1965; A. psenes Nixon, 1965; A. saravus Nixon, 1965; A. sartamus Nixon, 1965 and A. usipetes Nixon, 1965. Three new synonyms are proposed: A. chloris Nixon, 1965 = A. cornicula Chen Song, 2004, A. cavatiptera Chen Song, 2004 = A. glacilipes Song Chen, 2004 = A. opacus (Ashmead, 1905). A key to Chinese species of the ater-group is provided.

The genus Aspicolpus Wesmael, 1838 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Brachistinae) from China, with descriptions of four new species.

The species of the genus Aspicolpus Wesmael, 1838 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Brachistinae) from China are revised. Four new species, namely A. clypeconcavus Yan et Chen, sp. n., A. frontirugatus Yan et Chen sp. n., A. jilinensis Yan et Chen, sp. n., and A. striatus Yan et Chen, sp. n. are described and illustrated. A key to the Chinese species of the genus Aspicolpus is updated.

The ultor-group of the genus Dolichogenidea Viereck (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from China with the descriptions of thirty-nine new species.

The ultor-group of the genus Dolichogenidea Viereck from China is revised, which totally 67 species are recorded. Thirty-nine new species are described and illustrated, i.e., D. alophogaster Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. altithoracica Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. anterocava Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. apicurvus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. atarsi Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. breviattenuata Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. carborugosa Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. clausa Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. conpuncta Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. crassa Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. cucurbita Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. excellentis Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. flexitergita Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. fluctisulcus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. flexisulcus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. gleditsia Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. hemituba Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. hexagona Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. infirmus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. latitergita Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. lincostulata Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. lobesia Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. longialba Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. longimagna Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. lunatus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. medicava Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. minuscula Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. multicolor Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. obsoleta Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. opacifinis Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. ovata Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. parallodorsum Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. pentgona Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. punctipila Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. rectivena Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. transcarinata Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. vadosulcus Liu Chen, sp. nov.; D. victoria Liu Chen, sp. nov. and D. wangi Liu Chen, sp. nov. Five new combinations are proposed, i.e., D. acron (Nixon, 1967), comb. nov., D. bambusae (Wilkinson, 1928), comb. nov., D. kurosawai (Watanabe, 1940), comb. nov., D. lissos (Nixon, 1967), comb. nov., D. molestae (Muesebeck, 1933), comb. nov. Four newly recorded species are redescribed and illustrated, i.e., D. acron (Nixon, 1967), rec. nov., D. agilis (Ashmead, 1905), rec. nov., D. bambusae (Wilkinson, 1928), rec. nov., and D. ultima (Kotenko, 1986), rec. nov. One species, D. acutituba Song, Chen Yang, 2006, syn. nov. is synonymized with D. prisca (Nixon, 1967). Fifteen new host are recorded for the following previously described species viz., D. baoris, D. brevicarinata, D. expulse, D. heterusiae, D. hyposidrae, D. kurosawai, D. lacteicolor, and D. prisca and marked by a number sign (#). Eleven new host associations are documented for the following new species: D. alophogaster; D. crassa, D. flexisulcus; D. gleditsia; D. hexagona; D. lincostulata; D. lobesia; D. minuscula; D. multicolor; D. obsolete, and D. rectivena. The hosts of thirty-two species remain unknown. An identification key and distribution maps to the Chinese species of the ultor-group is provided.

[Investigation of quantitative detection of water quality using spectral fluorescence signature].

A method of spectral analysis, which can simultaneously detect dissolved organic matter (DOM) and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) in natural water, was developed in the present paper with the intention of monitoring water quality fast and quantitatively. Firstly, the total luminescence spectra (TLS) of water sample from East Lake in Wuhan city were measured by the use of laser (532 nm) induced fluorescence (LIF). There were obvious peaks of relative intensity at the wavelength value of 580, 651 and 687 nm in the TLS of the sample, which correspond respectively to spectra of DOM, and the Raman scattering of water and Chl-a in the water. Then the spectral fluorescence signature (SFS) technique was adopted to analyze and distinguish spectral characteristics of DOM and Chl-a in natural water. The calibration curves and function expressions, which indicate the relation between the normalized fluorescence intensities of DOM and Chl-a in water and their concentrations, were obtained respectively under the condition of low concentration(< 40 mg x L(-1))by using normalization of Raman scattering spectrum of water. The curves have a high linearity. When the concentration of the solution with humic acid is large (> 40 mg x L(-1)), the Raman scattering signal is totally absorbed by the molecules of humic acid being on the ground state, so the normalization technique can not be adopted. However the function expression between the concentration of the solution with humic acid and its relative fluorescence peak intensity can be acquired directly with the aid of experiment of fluorescence spectrum. It is concluded that although the expression is non-linearity as a whole, there is a excellent linear relation between the fluorescence intensity and concentration of DOM when the concentration is less than 200 mg x L(-1). The method of measurement based on spectral fluorescence signature technique and the calibration curves gained will have prospects of broad application. It can recognize fast what pollutants are and detect quantitatively their contents in water. It is realizable to monitor the quality of natural water with real time, dynamics and inlarge area.